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DANIEL WEBSTER 



A CHARACTER SKETCH 



BY 



ELIZABETH A. REED, A.M.. L.H.D. 



WITH ANECDOTES, CHARACTERISTICS AND 
•CHRONOLOGY 



■>■'.'" ,»o »•. 



PUBLISHED BY THE 

H. G. CAMPBELL PUBLISHLXG CO. 

MILWAUKEE. WIS. 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

0»ftC9WM 'deceived 

APR 8 1903 

(, copyright Entty 

c W i OO WM No. 

6 1/^ 

COPY A. 






Copyright 1899, 
By The Univeksity Association. 







n^mMM, 



w 



IT has been well said, that in order to make a ,e:reat 
man or woman, we must begin with the preceding 
generations, and Daniel Webster came of wonderfully 
good stock. 

Among the Puritans who settled in New Hampshire 
about the year 1636 was a man who bore the name of 
Thomas Webster. He was said to be of Scotch extract- 
ion, but he was a Puritan of the English race, and his 
wife was a notable woman in her generation. Her maid- 
en name was Susannah Batchelder, and her striking fig- 
ure, powerful mentality and wonderful dark eyes, com- 
manded the admiration of her neighbors and friends. It 
is thought that it was from her, that the distinguished 
grandson inherited a goodly proportion of his taste for 
literature, and a certain energ\- of mind for which the 
grandmother was noted. 

Thomas Webster and his wife had several children who 
afterward scattered through various parts of the new 
state, where they earned a somewhat precarious living 
amidst the founding of new settlements, and among In- 
dians who were often hostile. 

5 



6 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

In Kingston in 1793 there was born to this family a 
son who was named Ebenezer. His boyhood was spent 
in manual labor, but with a naturally strong intellect, he 
managed also to pick up a little education even amidst 
his unfavorable surroundings. 

He came of age during the French war and enlisted 
about 1760 in the famous corps which was known as 
"Roger's Rangers." In their desperate encounters with 
Indians and Frenchmen on the frontier, the rangers had 
their full share of hardship and danger, and young Wel> 
ster, strong in body, and brave by nature, won the re- 
spect of his comrades in many a hard fought battle. 

When the war closed, the young soldier, true to his 
pioneer instincts, built a log house in the northern part 
of Salisbury, (now F'ranklin) and here he brought his 
young wife, and began the life of a pioneer farmer, about 
the year 1763. At that time there was no civilization 
between him and the far away French settlements in Can- 
ada. The primeval woods stretched awav from his \erv 
door, in an unbroken forest which was the home of dan- 
gerous wild animals, and tlu- lurking jtlace of treacherous 
bands of savaofes. 

He was a splendid specimen of the New England race 
— a fit representative of ancestors, who for generations 
had been yocmen and ])ioneers. Like his mother, he was 
tall and large, with dark hair and eyes. Daniel used to 
say that his father was the handsomest man he ever saw 
except his brother Kzckiel. Having only the little edu- 
cation which he could pick up himself, under adverse 
circumstances, Kbenczer Webster was compelled to fight 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 7 

the battle of life against heavy odds. The little family 
struggled on in the wilderness for ten years, and then the 
wife died, leaving five children. 

Afterwards Mr. Webster married again, the second 
wife being Abigal Eastman, a )oung woman of sturdy 
New Hampshire stock, intelligent, warm hearted, and 
faithful— a noble wife and mother, who also bore him 
five children. 

When the Revolutionary War broke out, Ebenezer 
Webster was Captain of the Salisbury militia, composed 
of sturdy and intelligent workingmen like himself. The 
news of Lexington and Concord went through the country 
like an electric thrill, and he quickly led his willing 
company, to join the increasing Continental forces at Cam- 
bridge. This company was added to the miinite men, 
being incorporated in the militia, but serving as volun- 
teers without pay. 

These minute men were genuine patriots who having 
gathered in their crops, and having a month or so that 
they could spare, used to give their services to the coun- 
try until it was time to dig their potatoes, then going 
home to attend to their work and families, after which 
they would hurry away again to the camp and battle- 
field. 

While Captain Webster was stationed in the vicinity 
of Boston, he was selected to guard with his company the 
camp of W^ashington at Dorchester Heights, and it "was 
here that the Commander-in-Chief consulted with Web- 
ster concerning the faithfulness of his section of the 
country. 



8 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



He would not have needed to ask if his neighbors were 
in earnest, if he had seen the document, which Webster 
had himself drawn up which reads as follows: 

"We do most solemnh- engage and promise, that we 
will, to the utmost of our power, at tlie risk of our lives 
and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of 




Boston in 1774. from Dorchester Heiphts. 
Prom Lossiutr's ••W'ashintrioii and the American Kepublic." 



the British fleets and armies against the United American 
Colonies." 

DuriuiT the last vear of his life, Daniel Webster in 
speaking of the signers of this pledge said: '*In looking 
up this record, connected with the men of my birthplace, 
I was glad to find who wore the signers, and who were 
the dissenters. Among the former was my father, with 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



all his brothers, and the whole of his kith and kin. This 
is sufficient emblazonry for my arms, enough of heraldry 
for me." 

The elder Webster served bravely and faithfully 
through the war, taking part in the battles of White Plains 
and Bennington and in 1780 was posted at West Point 
This was shortly be. 
fore the treason of 
Arnold and w^hen 
the traitor's designs 
were revealed, Wash- 
ington sent for Web- 
ster to guard his tent 
again on that night, 
saying, "I believe I 
can trust you.'' 

The fourth child 
of the second mar- 
riage was a little 
boy, who came to the frontier home on the eighteenth 
day of January, 1782, and was christened Daniel. The 
babe was delicate, and the neighbors used to tell the 
mother that he probably would not live long, but as she 
gathered the little thing to her aching heart, she nour- 
ished the strong constitution which was somewhere hid- 
den in the frail body, and under her fostering care, the 
life was developed which meant so much to the young 
nation. 

The child loved nature in all her moods and tenses, 
and she was a kindly mother, filling his little lungs with 




George Washington. 



lo DANIEL WEBSTER. 

the purest and best of air, and giving generously of the 
magnetism with which she rewards her devotees. He 
showed little taste for anything except pla\', but he was 
taught to read at a very early age by his mother and sis- 
ters, as was the New England custom, and while still 
very young he was sent to the primitive schools, where 
even the masters knew very little beyond the rudiments 
of an education. But after a time his mind was awak- 
ened to a thirst for knowledge, and he quickly memor- 
ized whatever was set before him. The father was a fine 
reader, and his sonorous voice, and sympathetic rendition 
of the reading matter which was available, often fur- 
nished a treat for the familv during the long winter' 
evenings. He drew most frequently from the great mine 
of Biblical literature, and it is largely to this fact, that 
the son was indebted for the grandeur and simplicity of 
hisst>lc. 

While still very young he became a fine reader him- 
self, and often the men who came to his father's mill 
would hitch their horses, and say: "Let's go in and hear 
little Dan read a p.salm." Or perhaps they would coax 
him out unckr the trees while they waited, and he would 
read P>iblical extracts to them with all the force of his 
childish eloquence. 

He describes this period of his life in the following 
language: "I read what I could get to read, went to 
.school wluii I could, and wlun not at school, was a far- 
mer's ^■oungest boy, not good for nnuli, for want of 
health and strength, but expected to do something." 

It must be confessed however that he was of verv lit- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. n 

tie use on llic fanii, and the story of the scythe is proba- 
bly a trne one. 

It is said that one day while mowing by his father's 
side, he frequently complained that his scythe 'Svas not 
hnno- rio-ht." His father fixed it several times but with- 
out producing any better results, when at last he told the 
boy to "hang the scythe to suit himself," whereupon the 
young farmer hung it on a tree, and said, "It is hung 
exactly right now." It is said that the father laughed, 
and allowed it to remain there. 

It appears that Daniel was never fond of physical 
effort, and one day when the father left home he gave 
the two boys, directions to perform some specific work 
which he found untouched on his return. 

With a frown on his face he asked the elder boy what 
he had been doing all day? "Nothing, sir," replied the 
son. 

"Well Daniel, wdiat have you been doing?" 
"Helping Zeke, sir," was the quick reply. 
Ezekiel was very fond of his brother, and indeed the 
whole family accorded to him the petting and the privi- 
leo-es which so often fall to the lot of the familv invalid. 
These loving methods always inculcate the spirit of 
selfishness, and Daniel accepted all the favors which 
were showered upon him, with a feeling that they were 
his due. Still, he was warm hearted and he at least re- 
paid the family sacrifices with affection. 

The following anecdote illustrates the somewhat sel- 
fish character of the boy, and the atmosphere in which 
it w^as developed. 



12 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

Ezekiel and Daniel were allowed at one time to go to 
a fair in a neighboring town, and each was fnrnished 
with a little money from the slender family pnrse. When 
the boys came home, Daniel was radiant with happiness, 
while the older boy was very qniet. 

The mother at last asked Daniel what he had done 
with his money? 

"Spent it," trinmphantly answered the boy. 

"And what did yon do with yonrs, Ezekiel?" "Lent 
it to Daniel," was the snbdned reply. 

This reckless borrowing of money, withont the pros- 
pect of any ability to meet his obligations, remained a 
radical fanlt in the character of Webster even after he 
attained to manhood. A book that he wanted was snch 
a temptation, that he wonld borrow the money of any one 
npon whose generosit\ he conld prevail, and sometimes 
it was years before payinent conld be made. 

In 1 791 the sterling qualities of Ebenezcr Webster 
procured for him the position of Judge of the local court, 
with a salary of three or four hundred dollars a year. 
This was a great accession of wcallli to the modest fort- 
unes of the pi<meer family, and the fatlur immediately 
beiran to thiid^ of the education of his children — a favor- 
ite project which had hitherto seemed impo.ssible. 

In \\\v bhigland families, it was thought to l)e a good 
])lan to educate one child for a j)rofession, and tlu- deli- 
cate i^lusicjue of Daniel, which seemed to forl)id manual 
labor, was one reason jK^rhajis, why the choice iell upon 
him. Wlien the father told the boy of his purpose, and 
in a manU- \va\- expressed his regret that snch privileges 



DANIEL WEBSTP:R. 13 

had been denied to himself, the pathos of the situation 
was so great that Daniel never forgot it. 

About 1793 the boy was taken to Exeter Academy 
where he first came into contact with the world. The 
sensitive lad keenly felt the ridicule, which was freely 
bestowed upon his rustic dress and country ways. The 
freedom with which he had entertained his father's kind- 
ly neighbors, was lost, and he, who was afterward the 
o-reat American orator, found it impossible to stand up 
and deliver a memorized oration before these ill-mannered 
youths. Still he made real progress, and with the later 
aid of a private tutor, he managed to enter Dartmouth 
College in August of 1797. 

He was not very well prepared for his collegiate work, 
and in truth he never could correctly be called a scholar. 
He was passionately fond of reading and having a won- 
derful memory, he could make his own whatever he 
might choose. He said, soon after he left college that 
he was credited with more scholarship than he deserved, 
because of his ability to tell all that he did know, to the 
best advantao-e, and also that he was careful never to go 
beyond his depth. 

It was at Dartmouth, however, that he successfully 
cultivated the gift of speech. He would enter the debat- 
ing society, and, beginning slowly, would soon have the 
youthful audience entirely under his control. The fame 
of this unusual eloquence secured for him an invitation 
to deliver the Fourth of July Address for the people of 
Hanover in 1800. In this address he sketched rapidly 
the principal events of the Revolution, and eulogized the 



Vi 



i; 



' ..Of .' 



■V 




Daniel Wchstcr. 
From a Dayucrrcolypo by lirady. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 15 

new Constitution. Compared with his later efforts, of 
course it was boyish enough, but the sentiments are 
honest and nianl\-, while the literary work was certainly 
very creditable to a youth of eighteen. In his early 
speeches he advocated love of country, fidelity to the 
Constitution and the ab.solute necessity of the loyalty 
of the several States to the great whole. 

Two other college speeches have been preserved, the 
one being a eulogy on a class-mate, and the other an ad- 
dress which was given before a college society, and these 
manifest nuich the same style, and method of work, which 
had been shown in the first, and they also indicate the 
taste for politics which was afterward so fully developed. 

Webster was graduated from Dartmouth in 1801, and, 
returning to his native township, entered the law office 
of one of his father's friends. 

Here he read some law, for which it must be confessed 
he had little taste, and a great deal more of English lit- 
erature, but the financial question was pressing the Web- 
ster family,and before a year was gone,he became a teach- 
er in the little town of Fryburg, IVIaine. 

He was a successful teacher, having great dignity and 

affabilit}-. His influence over pupils appears to have been 
very strong, and some of them, even in old age, used to 
tell of the impressiveness of the scene when the sonorous 
tones of the )Oung teacher's voice rang out in the morn- 
ing and evening prayers, with which he always opened 
and closed his school. 

Even as a young man his personal appearance was 
very striking. He was tall and slender, with black hair, 



i6 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

and the luminous eyes Avhich seemed to fairly burn be- 
neath the heavy brows. His head was massive in struct- 
ure, while the high, dark forehead, and rugged features 
gave an appearance of mental strength, which never 
failed to impress even a careless observer. 

The wonderful dark eves were inherited, throueh his 
maternal grandmother, from a talented old preacher by 
the name of Batchelder. This sturdy character belonged 
to the early colonial days and was a man of distinction 
and devoted ser\-ice among the pioneers. 

The early New Englanders were quick to recognize 
"the Batchelder eyes" which were found in the Webster 
family, and were also inherited by Caleb dishing, Na- 
thaniel Hawthorne, John O. Whittier, and other sterling 
characters of New England history. 

The affection between the subject erf our sketch, and 
his older brother had alwavs been vcrv strouir, and it 
was at Daniel's earnest entreatv that the self sacrificiuir 
father made an effort to give Rzekiel also, a college edu- 
cation. Having tasted the sweets of learning himself, 
Daniel was anxious that his brother should be likewise 
favored. 

The father was now in poor health, and the farm was 
heavily mortgaged. The older son was the main-stay of 
the family, but the mother pleaded for him, as mothers 
will, and showed her willingness to give up evervthing 
if necessary for the education of her boys. The sisters 
too, shared willingly in the prospective privations, and 
Ezekiel began his studies, entering Dartmouth the same 
year that Daniel was graduated. While at Fryburg, 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 17 

Daniel Webster, the schoolmaster, was learning a lesson, 
which was a wonderful benefit to his really lovable 
nature. 

He had long been accustomed to receive sacrifices from 
other members of the familv, and now he realized that 
it was his turn to give some practical evidence of his 
affection. Out of school hours he did clerical work 
which he despised, and gave every dollar which he could 
spare to the loyal brother, who had so long ministered 
to him. 

After three years in college, Ezekiel entered the school- 
room, teaching in Boston, and his salary was sufficient, 
not only for his own modest needs, but it enabled Daniel 
to continue his studies in this home of New England 
culture. He obtained a position in the office of Chris- 
topher Gore, an eminent member of the Boston bar, who 
was afterward a Governor of ]\Iassachusetts. Like Web- 
ster he was a Federalist in politics, and it was upon this 
basis that he was elected to the Senate of the United 
States. 

This was a wonderful opportunity for the young law- 
yer. The professional friends of V^x. Gore were among 
the leaders of the Massachusetts bar, and the association 
with this class of men stimulated Webster to his best ef- 
forts. 

In 1805 he was admitted to the Boston bar, but he re- 
turned to New Hampshire and opened an office, where 
he might be near his father. He went to work with a 
will, and not only obtained a practice which brought 
him a modest competence, but he was also winning a 



i8 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

reputation as one of the ablest advocates in the state. 

In 1806 the faithful father died, at the age of sixty-sev- 
en,and Daniel manfully assumed his financial obligations, 
waited until Ezekiel was admitted to the bar, then plac- 
ino- the brother in his own office, he went to Portsmouth 
where, in 1807, he made his home. ,:-.i\. 

Young Webster had always :t)eeTf a 'favorite with the 
ladies, but he was a little slow about forming a permanent 
attachment. When the fine-looking young lawyer ap- 
peared in Portsmouth, he was considered a great acqui- 
sition to society, especially as his fame had preceded him. 
Older men were not slow to see that he was one of the 
most promising advocates in the State, and the girls were 
interested in the striking personality of the stranger. 

He was the recipient of many social attentions, and 
his brilliant conversational powers made him the centre 
of attraction at dinners and other functions. P>nt he paid 
no marked attention to any one in Portsmouth; on the 
contrarv he slipped away from his new friends in the 
spring of i8o8,and went to Salisbury where he found his 
bride. Ik- was then married to Miss Grace Fletcher who 
was the daughter of a minister. He had first seen her 
at church, whither she had gone on horseback wearing a 
closely fitting black dress. 

Daniel said at the time that she "looked like an angel" 
and he prosecuted his suit with that determination which 
was so characteristic of the man. The lady in the case 
was given little opportunitv to see other suitors, until the 
promise was given, and he was surely a very ardent lov- 
er. When his powerful mentality and warm-hearted 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 19 

crallantrv were all enlisted in his own cause, he was irre- 
sistable in his pertinacity. 

The ^•oun5r wife appears to have been a <rracious and 
lovely woman, refined in her feelings and warmly .s'ym- 
pathetic with the great work of her husband. 

She was fnlly capable of appreciating him both intel- 
lectually and morally, and he made a most affectionate 
husband. Theirs was a happy home, where congenial 
spirits found a source of strength in each other, and the 
love-light in their little cottage illumined whatever of 
sorrow, the world held for them. They pushed on through 
life with hearts so warm and close together, that they 
scarcely felt the storms without. 

Mr. Webster was constantly advancing in his profes- 
sion, winning a greater fame and a more profound respect 
throughout the State, and being social in his dis- 
position, he and his charming wife were very popular in 
their home citv. Their children grew up around them 
in this pleasant atmosphere, and the influence of the Web- 
ster family became far reaching for good in the commun- 
ity. 

During these years of happy domestic relations he was. 
constantly coming forward as a political leader. Like his 
father and older brother, he belonged to the old party of 
Washington and Hamilton — being radically opposed to 
the doctrine of protection. He was more liberal than 
most of the Federalists of his day, he could not endorse 
their narrowness and bitterness, and in later years his 
views became still broader, being largely influenced by 
his intense national feeling. 



20 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

When about thirty years of age he was elected as a 
member of the Thirteenth Congress where he took his seat 
in May of 1 813. Henry Clay was then the Speaker of 
the House while upon the floor were many men who af- 
terward attained a national reputation. A few months 
later he delivered an able address opposing Madison and 
the draft of 1814 which included minors. On this occasion 

he attacked the whole 
policy and the conduct 
of the strugsfle which is 
called "the War of 181 2." 
The following extract 
gives a good idea of this 
forcible speech: 

''Gi\'e up your futile 
projects of invasion. Ex- 
tiuLruish the fires that 
blaze on 3'our inland fron- 
tier. Establish perfect 
safety and defence there by adequate force. Let 
every man who sleeps on your soil, sleep in security. 
Stop the blood that flows from the veins of unarmed 
yoemanry, and women and children. Give to the living 
time to bury, and to lament their dead in the quietness 
of private sorrow, 

"Having perfonned this work of beneficence and mer- 
cy on your inland border, turn and look with the eye of 
compassion and justice on your vast population along the 
coast. Unclench the iron grasp of your embargo. Take 
measures for that end before another sun sets. ... If 




Henry Clay. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 21 

then the war mi4st be continued, go to the ocean. 
If "s-ou are seriously contendinfj for maritime riijhts, g-o to 
the theatre where alone those rights can be defended. 
Thither every indication of your fortune points you. 
There the united wishes and exertions of the nation will 
go with you. Even our party divisions, acrimonious as 
thev are, cease at the water's edo-e." 

Events soon forced the administration to adopt Web- 
ster's policy. The embargo was first modified, and be- 
fore the close of the session, a bill was introduced for its 
repeal. 

Calhoun was Webster's principal antagonist in this 
matter, and many brilliant passages occurred on the 
floor of the House. 

Perhaps the most important service which Mr. Web- 
ster rendered to the country during.this Congress, was his 
determined and successful opposition to such a national 
bank as was proposed by the members of the national 
war party. This was a three-sided contest. The war 
party wanted a bank of large capital with no obligation 
to make specie payments, but obliged to make lieavy 
loans to the government. This was a proposed state of 
things which involved of course a large paper currency 
not redeemable in coin. Another class of men represent- 
ed the "Old Republican" doctrines and were opposed to 
any bank at all. The third party, which led by Web- 
ster, represented the views of Hamilton and the Federa- 
lists, favoring a bank with a reasonable capital, compelled 
to pay in either gold or silver, and using its own pleas- 
ure about making loans to the government. 



22 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

A bill for the paper money bank came from the sen- 
ate, and Webster threw the whole force of his argumen- 
tative powers against it. He took his position as the foe 
of irredeemable paper whether iu war or peace — as op- 
posed to wild and imrestrained banking privileges of ev- 
ery character. The bill was defeated, and when the re- 
sult was announced, Calhoun was entirely overwhelmed. 
It is claimed that he came to Webster, and with tears in 
his e}-es, begged him to aid in establishing a legitimate 
bank for the erood of the countrv. 

Mr. Webster readily consented, the vote was reconsid- 
ered, the bill recommitted and brought back, with a re- 
duced capital and freed from the control of the govern- 
ment, so far as forced loans and the suspension of specie 
pavments,. were concerned. This bill was passed by a 
large majorit\- winch was led b\' the Federalists. 

It was vetoed by the President, and Webster declared 
it was done because the administration was not in favor 
of a sound iinanciil system. 

Another paper money scheme was introduced and the 
fight began over again, but it was terminated by the ter- 
mination of the war, and on March 4th, the Thirteenth 
Congress was adjourned. 

MrAVebstcr was re-elected to the Fourteenth Congress 
and tins was a somewhat stormy time in American annals. 
There were too many "leaders," to make for peace. 
Most of the principal men of the old Thirteenth had been 
returned to their scats, and Henry Clay came home from 
Knrope to resume his position. Besides these there was 
Pinknev who was considered among the foremost mem- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 




bers of the American bar, and there was John Randolph 
with real talent and brilliancy, but with eccentricities 
enough to nearly balance his genius. 

]\Ir. Webster was late in taking his seat on account of 
the severe illness of 
his little daiighter 
Grace, and when he 
arrived he found 
Congress at work up- 
on another paper 
money scheme very 
similar to the one he 
had defeated. 

He threw himself 
at once into the 
work, and showed 
that the currency of the United States was sound because 
it was based upon gold and silver, and these were in his 
opinion the only constitutional mediums. In reference to 
to the proposed national bank, he repeated the strong ar- 
guments which he had previously made against the pow- 
er to suspend specie payment. The opposition of Web- 
ster and his friends resulted in removing the most 
obnoxious features of the bill, but he voted against it on 
its final passage. 

Immediately after the passage of the bank bill, Cal- 
houn introduced one requiring the revenue to be collect- 
ed in lawful money of the United States. After a fierce 
debate the bill was lost. Then Webster offered resolutions 
requiring all government dues to be paid in coin, treas- 



John Randolph. 



i.4 DAXIKL WEBSTER. 

ury notes, or in notes of the Bank of the United States. 

He put these resohitions forward in the face of the fact 
that the principal which they involved had just been vo- 
ted down and with one powerful speech, he actually forced 
their passage, bringing about resumption. This \vas a 
signal victory, and after the bank was established it gave 
us a sound currency and a safe medium of exchange 
based upon gold and silver coin. 

During the excitement of debate in this Congrcssjohn 
Randolph more than once forgot the claims of courtesy, 
and once during the time he challenged Webster to mor- 
tal combat. He received a dignified reply in which Web- 
ster refused to admit Randolph's right to an explanation, 
and closed bv saving that while he did not feel bound to 
risk his life at anyone's bidding he"should always be pre- 
pared to repel in a suitable manner, the aggression of 
anv man who may presume on this refu.sal." 

Some biographers claim that this was the only chal- 
lenge which Webster ever received, but the truth is that 
in 1S25 he received another, and this was also from the 
hand of Randolph. The .secret was well kept, but finally 
came to liglit through the memorandum of Thomas Ben- 
tou, bearing date of Feb. 20,. 1825, Benton having been 
the bearer of the challenge. The diary of John Ouincy 
Adams also explains the circumstances from which the 
challenge arose. It appears that Webster made a state- 
uKiit which Randi)lph interpreted as reflecting upon his 
veracitv, and on his return fnuu Kurope he wrote the 
letter to Webster which reads as follows: 

"Sir, 1 karn from unquestionable authority that during my late ab- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 2$ 

sence from the United States, you have indulged yourself with liberties 
with my name (aspersing my veracity) which no gentleman can take 
who does not hold himself responsible for such an insult from one. 

My friend, Col. Benton, the bearer of this, will arrange the terms 
of the meeting to which you are hereby invited. 

I am Sir, 

Your Obedient Servant, 

John Randolph." 

Webster replied to Benton that he had only intended to 
state that Mr. Randolph was under a mistake or mis- 
apprehension in relation to the facts of the case, and the 
matter seems to have ended there. Let ns be thankful 
that foolishness of this sort belongs only to the past. 

On March 4,1817, the Fourteenth Congress adjourned, 
and then l\Ir. Webster retired to pri\-ate life in order 
to practice law, as with his growing family he needed a 
larger income than the salary of a congressman. In 
Washincrton he had been admitted to the bar of the Su- 
preme Court of the United States, and had tried a few, 
cases before that august tribunal. 

This Supreme Court practice led to his removal to Bos- 
ton where tlie Webster family made their new home, and 
where he soon built up a practice worth about twenty 
thousand dollars a year. 

But it was here in 181 7 that they lost their daughter 
Grace, a beautiful child who seemed to -inherit her fath- 
er's expression of face, and perhaps a portion of his great 
talent. It was a terrible blow to both parents when the 
little thing died in her father's arms, her last look being 
given with a loving smile to him. 

During his two terms in Congress he had won a ua- 



26 DAXIKL WEBSTER. 

tional reputation as a powerful advocate of whatever meas- 
ure he might endorse. He had gone upon record as a rep- 
resentative of the New England Federalists, who although 
they w'ere protectionists in theory, had so far modified 
the old doctrines that they were willing to submit to a 
moderate tariff when protection seemed unavoidable. 

He had also become the champion of payments to be 
made in either gold or silver coin, and while he had not 
hesitated to oppose the administration during the war, he 
was acknowledged as one of the ablest defenders of the 
Constitution that ever stood upon the floor of Congress. 
The doctrines of secession which were already at work 
found in him an opponent whom their ablest advocates 
did not care to attack. 

His name and his powerful personality were recognized 
as a radical American product. And his voice was al- 
ways ready to advocate the independence and nationality 
of our country. The integrity and perpetuity of the 
great republic was a theme which called forth his grand- 
est efforts. In the north and the south, in the east and 
the west, his influence was felt as the champion of the 
Constitution in its integrity, and of the country as one 
grand united nation. 

One of the most brilliant efforts which he made after 
taking uj) his residence in Boston, was his ar^uuKut in 
the famous Dartmouth College case, which he argued with 
wonderful power before the Supreme Court of the United 
States, finall>' winning the case in behalf of the College. 
This established a precedent having deep and far-reaching 
results. It l)rought within the scope of the Constitution 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 27 

of the United States, every charter granted by a state, 
and extended the jnrisdiction of the highest federal court, 
more than any judgment which it had ever rendered. 
His conduct of this case raised Mr. Webster to a position 
at the bar which was second only to that which was held 
by Pinkney, and he was constantly employed in impor- 
tant and lucrative legal work. 

Perhaps the finest of Webster's anniversary speeches, 
was that which was given on the 22nd of December 1820 
in commemoration of the landing of the pilgrims at 
Plymouth Rock, just two hundred years before. It was 
spoken of at the time as the most eloquent address which 
had ever been delivered upon this continent, and it was 
given when the orator was not quite thirty eight years 
of age. 

This was the beginning of the third century in the his- 
tory of New England. The young nation had passed 
successfully through the throes of revolution, as well as 
the hardships of pioneers, and in a long address of more 
than twenty-four thousand words, the orator eloquently 
depicted the growth and prosperity of the new country. 

He was now the most conspicuous man in New Eng- 
land with the exception perhaps of John Onincy Adams; 
there was therefore a strong popular current in favor of 
his return to public life. In 1822, he accepted, with ap- 
parent reluctance the nomination to Congress, and in De- 
cember of 1823 he again took his seat in that angust body, 
this time as a representative of the people of Boston. Mr. 
Clay gave a public recognition of his importance by 
placing Webster at the head of the Judiciary Committee 



28 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

of llie House, and he was universally regarded as the 
most brilliant man on the floor. 

His return to Conjjress was signalized by one of his 

great speeches, which was made in favor of his own reso- 

hition to provide by law, for the expenses incident to the 

appointment of a commissioner to Greece, should the 

President approve .such an appointment. 

The Greeks were then in the throes of revolution, and 
the American people had much sympatlu- for them in 
their brave struggle for libert\-. 

This speech was not a brilliant classical oration 
as some of his friends seemed to expect, but it was an 
expression of his own grand conception ot the true 
mi.ssion of the American Union. His object was to 
show that wdiile we should take no political part in the 
affairs of Europe, still it was our duty as well as our priv- 
ilege to exerci.se an enormous influence upon the public 
sentiment of the whole world. The national destiny of 
our country as an educator among the nations, was his 
theme. 

The orator briefly .sketched the history of Greece, and 
especially the bravo struggle which she was tlu-n making 
airain.st Turkish barbarity. He recounted the fact that 
fort\- thousand women and children who were unhappily 
saved from the indiscriminate massacre, were .sold into a 
slavery which was infinitely worse. He eloquently 
pleaded for some expres.sion of practical sympatlu- for the 
people who had l)een .so long, and so cruelly o]i]uessed. 

Webster's address found a (jiiick respon.se in the heart 
of Henry Clav who .sprang to his feet and enthusiastical- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 29 

Iv supported the resolution, which he supplemented with 
another a<^ainst the interference of Spain in South Amer- 
ica. 

A stormy debate followed, with Randolph on the other 
side, and Webster found that Calhoun had misled him 
concerning the views of the President, in relation to the 
proposed Greek mission. This combination of circum- 
stances destroyed all hope of a practical result, but the 
generous sentiments of the speech were ^<ddely read. Not 
only was the address circulated among the English speak- 
ing peoples, but it was translated into all the languages 
of Europe, In Great Britain as well as in America, it 
was considered the ablest speech which had ever been 
delivered in the House of Representatives. 

The address which was given on June 17, 1825, by 
Webster at the laying of the corner stone of the Bunker 
Hill monument was unique as well as eloquent. Speech- 
es had not often been required upon such occasions, but 
the forcible utterance of the great American orator, made 
the practice almost universal, and since that time nearly 
all corner stones are laid with appropriate ceremonies. 

Fifty years after that memorable battle was fought, the 
corner stone of the monument was laid, and there were 
thousands effaces glowing with sympathy \\hich greeted 
the orator on that occasion. 

There are many masterpieces among Webster's ora- 
tions. His splendid eulogy upon Adams and Jefferson, 
ranks among his finest productions. This was given 
Aug. 2, 1826, and the same year he was chosen Senator. 
His lecture at the T^Iechanic's Institute in Boston at 



30 DANIKL WEBSTER. 

the opening of the course, was delivered Nov. 12, 1828. 
This was a vahiable, scientific lecture, and it gives a good 
idea of the adaptability of the great orator to various 
themes. His tastes were largely in this direction, and it 
will be remembered that when he was graduated, he chose 
a scientific theme for his address. 

The vear of 1828 was a memorable one to Webster, 
In January of that year he lost his beloved wife, and this 
was bv far the most terrible blow which had ever fallen 
upon him. She had been a comrade and confidential 
friend, as well as a devoted wife. She was the love of his 
early manhood and the mother of his children. When 
he followed her form to the grave, he was pale and list- 
less refusing to be comforted. But the imperative call 
of duty was a help to him, as it has been to many anoth- 
er sufferer, and he found in hard and continuous work, 
the greatest reHef which can come to a troubled heart, 
except the one unfailing comfort of the Christian hope. 

In a letter to ]\Ir. Ticknor, Judge Story speaks of \Vel> 
ster's first day in the Senate after the death of his wife. 
"The very day of Mr. Webster's arrival" writes the Judge, 
"there was a process bill on its third reading, filled as he 
thought with inconvenient and mischievous provisions. 
I k- made, in a modest undertone, some inquiries, and, upon 
an answer being given, he expressed in a few words his 
doubts and fears. 

"Imuiediately, ]\Ir. Tazewell from \'irginia broke out 
upon him in a speech of two hours. Mr. Webster then 
moved an adjournment, and on the next day deliv- 
ered a most masterly reply, expoundiug the whole 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



31 



operation of the intended act in the clearest manner, so 
that a re-commitment was carried almost without an ef- 
fort. It was a triumph of the most gratifying nature, 
and taught his opponents the danger of provoking a trial 
of his strength, 
even when he was 
overwhelmed b v 
calamity." 

Another "-re a t 
effort was the 
speech which was 
given on the tariff 
of 1828, a bill 
making extensive 
changes in the 
rates of duties im- 
posed in 1 816 and 
1824. 

This address 
marked an import- 
ant epoch in his 
political career. 
He now yielded his place as the ablest advocate in the 
country of free trade, and went o\er to the support of 
the "American System" as it was advocated by Henry 
Clay. 

He was subjected to severe criticism for so doing, but 
he argued that it was merely a question of commerce, and 
when it became the interest of New England to advocate 
protection, he was justified in standing by his constitu- 




Josepb Slory, LL. D Born 1779. Died 1845. 



32 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 




Andrew Jackson. 



ents. The act in favor of the tariff was passed in May, 1S28, 
and soon afterward the South Carolina delegation held a 
meeting for the piirpose of inaugurating- methods to re- 
sist its operation. There were popular uprisings in South 

Carolina, and in the following au- 
tunni there issued from the State 
Legislature the famous "exposition 
and protest," which emanated from 
Calhoun, and which advocated the 
principles of nullification in the 
strongest terms. President Jackson 
was then inaugurated, but Calhoun 
and his state neverlost sight of their 
point, and they were always ready 
to bring it to the front whenever there was an opportu- 
nity. 

In 1 829 Daniel Webster met with another severe loss 
in the death of his brother Kzekiel. This was a life lone: 
grief, for the affection between them had been stronger 
than ofliu exists between brothers. Another chang-e in 
his life was also made by second marriage, the ])ri(le be- 
ing ]\Iiss Lero)- t)f New York. It appears that he lived 
amicably with her, but .she could ur\cr be to him, tlie 
great treasure which he fomid in the wife of his youth, 

Tlie loss of his brothcr,and this second marriage seemed 
to make a complete break in his life. A still wider fame 
la)' before him, but tliere were i)olitieal scandals, also 
which, although ]>robal)ly unjustified, still had more or 
le.ss effect ujion him. During the latter part of his life 
there were many bitter attacks upon him, and some of 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 33 

these were made in public. On January 19, 1S30, Gen- 
eral Hayne of South Carolina made an unwarranted at- 
tack on the New England states, accusin^^ llK-ni of an 
cfTort to prevent the development of the west by means 
of the protective policy, and invited a movement to in- 
duce the west and the south to make common cause 
against the tarilT. 

Webster felt that such a speech could not pass unno- 
ticed, and the next day, he replied to it, showing the 
groundlessness of the attack, and tearing Hayne's elab- 
orate argument to ])ieces. 

Humiliated and angry, Hayne insisted on the presence 
of Mr. Webster in the Senate the next day. He then 
made a bitter attack, not only u])on New England, but 
especial! \- n]«)n Massachusetts, and even upon Webster 
personally. Leaving the question of the tariff, almost 
entirely, he made a strong secession speech, and boldly 
planted the standard of nulification in the vcr)- vSenate of 
the United States. 

It was a masterly effort, and many of Webster's friends, 
struck with the brilliancy and real ability of Hayne, be- 
gan to enquire of each other "Can Webster answer that?" 

Mrs. Webster was present at the Capitol, and wasgreat- 
Iv agitated bv the fire and force of the hero of South Car- 
olina.» She rode home with a friend in advance of her 
husband, and waited anxiously for him. 

At last he came tramping up to the door with a heavy 
tread, and the wife rushing into the hall, with tears in 
her eyes, anxiously enquired, "Can you — can yon answer 
Mr. Havne?" 



34 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

With a sort of a roar the j^reat Xorthern Lion turned 
upon his heel with the words: "Answer him! I'll g-r-i-n-d 
him to powder." 

The next day, just as he was going- into the Senate 
chamber, Mr. Bell of New Hampshire said to him, "It 
is a critical moment and it is time, it is high time, that 
the people of this country should know what this Consti- 
tution is." 

"Then" answered Webster, "by the blessing of heaven, 
they shall learn this day, before the sun goes down, what 
I understand it to be." 

In due time the Websterian thunder rolled through the 
arches of the Capitol, and the process of grinding Gener- 
al Hayne, was commenced in good earnest. 

Webster began his immortal reply by bringing his op- 
ponent back to the su])jcct which was under discussion, 
and calling for the reading of the resolution in relation to 
the proposed instruction of tlie committee on public lands. 
He then said: 

"We liave thus heard, sir, what the resolution is,which 
is actually before us for consideration; and it will readily 
occur to every one, that it is almost the only subject, 
about which .something has not been .said, in the speech 
runniui/ throutih two da\s, bv which the Senate has 
now been entertained by the gentleman from South 
Carolina 

"Every toj)ic in the wide range of our jniblic affairs, 
whether past or present — everything, general or U)cal, 
whether belonging to n itioual politics, or party politics 
— seems to have attracted more or less of the honorable 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 35 

gentleman's attention, save only, the resolution before the 
Senate." 

He then followed Hayne over the most important 
points upon which he had touched. In relation to the 
extension of slavery, he argued that he had never made 
anv attack on the institution in itself, for although be- 
lieving it to be wrong, and being decidedly opposed to its 
extension, he still believed that slavery within their bor- 
ders was a question which should be decided by the 
southern people themselves. 

This address was the crowning point of a long and 
successful public career. On the morning of the mem- 
orable day, the Senate chamber was packed to its utmost 
capacity on floor and galleries, all available standing 
room being filled. 

In the hush of expectation the champion of the Consti- 
tution arose to his feet, and his splendid personality at 
once thrilled the hearts of the listeners. 

His commanding figure, massive head, and dome like 
forehead, his strong features and deep magnetic eyes, had 
their full effect even while he spoke in low measured 
tones. But when he arose to the full appreciation of the 
situation — when his reasoning, his sarcasm, his pathos 
and burning appeals to the loyalty of his hearers came in 
an eloquent torrent from his lips, a new fire came into the 
wonderful eyes, a new glow swept over the dark face, 
and a new life seemed to pervade his whole being. 

His voice which had at first been low and musical, was 
now ringing out like a clarion call to duty, and his 
right arm seemed to sweep away every vestige of the 



36 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



sophistry of his opponent. The effect was not only 
magical, but enduring, and this address has gone 
down into history as one of the most powerful on record, 
among the many . splendid speeches which have been 

called forth by our 
Constitution and 
our country. 

Such was the 
eclat derived from 
his celebrated re- 
ply to Hayne that 
])eople began to 
talk of Webster as 
a candidate for the 
l)residency, a n d 
this vaulting am- 
I'iliiiu took posses- 
sion of his heart. 

In I S3 1 Martin 
\'an lUiren was 
nominated as ]\Iin- 
ister to Kngland, 
and he departed 
on his mi.s.sion sour- time before thv ciuestion of his 
conlirmation came up in the Senate. 

Webster opposed the confirmation with all the earnest- 
ness and eloquence of which he was master. lie based 
liis' attack upon the conduct of \'an Ihiren in 1S29 when 
as Secretary of State, he had in.structed Mr. McLane, the 
.Minister to England, to re-open negotiations on the sub- 




Louis McLane. 
American Statesman. Born ITSG. Died ISO". 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 37 

ject of the West India trade, thereby reflectin^^: on the 
previons administration, and it was claimed also that Van 
Bnren had said that "the party in power wonld not snp- 
port the pretensions of its predecessors." 

Webster argued that this was the first instance in which 
an American minister had been sent abroad as the rep- 
resentative of his party, and not as a representative of 
his country! His opposition was successful and the nom- 
ination was rejected, but this rejection created so much 
sympathy for Van Buren that it insured his nomination 
and election to the presidency, which would otherwise 
probably, have fallen to Daniel Webster. 

In November of 1832 South Carolina in convention 
passed her famous ordinance,nullifying the revenue laws 
of the United States, and afterward her legislature eu- 
acted laws to carry out the ordinance, and gave an open 
defiance to the l^uited States Government. Tlie wliole 
country was excited. John C. Calhoun had resigned the 
vice-presidency, accepted the senatorship of South Caro- 
lina, and went to the Capital as the champion of the doc- 
trines of secession. 

Ihit "Old Hickory" as Jackson was' called, issued the 
historic proclamation on December 10, before Congress 
assembled, in which ho look the same position which 
W^ebster had so al)ly sustained, in his reply tolhune, and 
from this document the South Carolinians learned that, 
although a nati\-c of the South, tlie President of the 
United States had no sympathy with treason— that he 
would enforce the laws of tlie Crovernment even at the 
point of the bayonet, if need be. 



38 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

A member of Congress from South Carolina, who 
called npon him, inquired on leaving, if he had any 
commands for his friends. Jackson answered, "Yes, I 
have; please give my compliments to my friends in your 
state and say to them that, if a single drop of blood shall 
be shed there, in opposition to the laws of the United 
States, / will hang the first ))ian I can lay ?nv hands on^ 
ivho is engaged in such treasonable conduct^ on the first 
tree I can reach.'' 

Mr. Webster was in New Jersey on his way to Wash- 
ington when Jackson's vigorous proclamation fell into his 
hands; when he reached Philadelj)hia he met Henry 
Clav, and a little later received a copy of a bill, which 
was designed fur the puri)ose of doing away with the tar- 
iff gradnallv, b\- persistent reductions. It was also in- 
tended to prevent the imposition of further duties, and 
in other wavs force the country' as soon as pos>^ible to 
come into haniitnu w ilh the \ i(.\\s ot the vSonth Caro- 
linians. Ihit this wholesale compromi.se was woX. at all in 
harmouv w ith Webster's feelings. 

There had been open resistance to constitutional laws, 
and until obedience had brtn rendered in this particular, 
he felt thai an\' considiralion of this (lueslion of compro- 
mise, was an insult to thr whok' nation. IK' innnediate- 
ly allied him.selfwilh tin.- administration, claiming that 
there woidd be tiuK- enough to talk of concessions after 
the national honor had bitu fnll\- \ indicated. 

At the opening of the session, a mes.sage was sent to 
Congress asking that proxision miglit be made to enable 
the President to enforce the laws by using both land and 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 39 

naval forces if necessary. This was a radical measure 
which set the whole country in commotion, but it was 
the only thing which the Chief Executive could honor- 
ably do. 

The message was referred to a committee who prompt- 
ly reported the famous "Force Bill. " This bill embodied 
the principles of the message, and met with the cordial 
approval of the President. But a portion of Jackson's 
own party went into revolt, for many of them were 
Southerners, and they could not bring themselves to en- 
dorse the coercion of South Carolina. 

Mr. Webster proved a veritable tower of strength to the 
administration, and on Feb. 8, 1833, he announced in 
his usual forcible and eloquent words, that he was wholly 
on the side of the Constitution and the laws, and that he 
should give them his most earnest support. 

The camp of the enemy quailed, Mr. Calhoun being 
alarmed for the success of his measure. It was known also 
that the sturdy occupant of the Executive Chair was in- 
didging in threats of hanging the traitors. Calhoun there- 
fore hurried to Henry Clay, and it was arranged that Clay 
should introduce a tariff bill which was a modification of 
the other, but still gave to South Carolina nearly all that 
she asked. 

On tlie nth, Clay presented the l)ill which he advoca- 
ted in one of his most brilliant speeches,arguing that on- 
ly in this way could the tariff be preserved. Webster 
briefly opposed the bill, and introduced a series of resolu- 
tions combatiug the proposed measure and attacking the 
evident willingness to abandon the rightful powers of 



40 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

Congress. But before he could speak in behalf of his 
resolutions, the "Force Bill'' was brought before the 
house and John C. Calhoun in speaking of it anade his 
celebrated armnnent in behalf of nnlification. He \vas 
ably met, however, by the champion of the Constitution 
and the law. On the i6th day of February, 1833, in the 
midst of a most exciting congressional contest, Webster 
replied to Calhoun in his celebrated speech entitled, 
"The Constitution not a Compact." 

"Perhaps," says ]\Ir. Curtis, "there is no speech ever 
made by Mr. Webster that is so close in its reasoning, so 
compact and so powerful." He defended the Constitu- 
tion as it was, and also as that which it had come to 
mean. This speech came to be a valuable document on 
constitutional law. It was an eloquent denunciation of 
the doctrines of secession, and he was not without proof 
that South Carolina was now denouncing the very prin- 
ciples which she had once warmly advocated. 

This splendid address gave voice to the loyalty of the 
nation, and no tloubt it contributed very largely to the 
magnificent moral strength and courage, which afterward 
carried it triumphantly through four years of war, and, 
placed its banner upon the mountain tops of victory, with 
never a star torn from its azure field. 

While this fierce debate was going on and friends 
of the Constitution were pushing the "Force BilV'to a vote, 
Clay was exerting himself to the utmost to bring forward 
the tariff bill in the interest of compromise. The "Force 
Bill," however, was passed on Feb. 20th. It was followed 
immediately by the bill which Clay advocated, and which 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 41 

Webster vigorously opposed. He argued that it would 
be criminal to sacrifice the interests of the whole nation 
in order to soothe the wounded pride of South Carolina. 
Clay did not then press a vote which he knew must re- 
sult in the loss of his measure, but he succeeded in 
getting his tariff bill passed promptly by the House, af- 
ter which it passed the Senate although Webster voted 
against it. Therefore the irritations of South Carolina 
were soothed for the time being, and the principles of se^ 
cession were cultivated assiduously for a later and more 
vigorous crop of the same product. 

In the autumn of the same year, Webster had a pro- 
longed struesfle with the President, in relation to the Bank 
of the United States. He came into the fight fortified 
with a set of resolutions from the people of Boston, and 
censured Jackson for the deplorable condition of business 
which had obtained, in consequence of the removal of the 
government deposits from the National Bank. 

He found that the Executive who was so opposed to one 
National Bank, had now l^een the means of creating a 
large number of small institutions called state banks, and 
to these the collection of public revenue had been in- 
trusted. After the presentation of the Boston resolutions 
and before the close of the session, he spoke upon this 
subject in its various forms, no less than sixty-four times. 

He finally gained tlic victory over the administration, 
and the struggle resulted in the consolidation of the Whig 
party, as representing the opposition to unconstitutional 
encroachments by the President of the United States. 

In April of 1839, Mr. Webster went to England for a 




42 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

long needed rest, taking with him his wife and daughter, 
and also ^Irs. Paige, the wife of his brother-in-law. Miss 
Webster was at this time engaged to be married to Mr. 
Samuel Appleton, a member of the Boston family of that 
name; but her father could not consent to a speedy mar- 
riage, so it was arranged that Mr. Appleton should go 

later in company with the 
son, ]\Ir. Edward Webster, 
who was then a student 
in Dartmouth College, and 
the marriage should take 
place in England. 

The ^'Gazette,'* in mak- 
ing the announcement of 
his arrival said, "We cor- 
dially welcome to our 
shores this great and good 
„,.,,. „ ,, man, and accept him as a 

Ninth I'rcsideiii. ijoni 1773. Died 1841. j-j^ representative of all 

the great and good qualities of our trans-Atlantic 

brethren. •' 

The day after the announcement, the street in front of 
his hotel was crowded with carriages, and he at once be- 
come a lion in English Society. 

Afterward they made a delightful trip through Scot- 
land, and on the 24th of September the marriage of the 
daughter took place at St. (;eorge\s in Hanover Sciuarc. 

General Harri.son was nominated for the Presidency by 
the Whigs, on the 4th of December, 1S39. 

This was the first bit of political news which Mr. Web- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 43 

ster received when the pilot came on board the ship as it 
approached New York on the 29th of the month. 

The dreams of retirement in which he had indnlged 
when embarking- for home, were given to the winds, for 
he had arrived in a time of snch political excitement 
that he conld not well resist the inflnences which were 
drawing him into the pdwerfnl current. And yet his 
first address after reaching home was in relation to the 
products of the soil. 

The Legislature of ?klassacliusetts assembk-d in the fol- 
lowing month, and being compo.sed mostl)' of farmers, 
they were anxious to hear from Mr. Webster on the sub- 
ject of English agriculture. 

He met them in the hall of the House of Representa- 
tives on the evening of January 13, 1840, and talked in 
an easy con\ersational way to his brother farmers, con- 
cernine the observations which he had made while abroad. 

He was then in the full nialurit\' of his maidiood 
being about fifty-seven years of age, and it is said that 
he had seldom ])resented a more imposing personal ap- 
pearance than on that evening. 

He wore his usual evening dress and also the long 
black broadcloth cloak which was so fashionable at that 
time. This graceful garment hung from his shoulders 
and .seemed to give additional height to his commanding 
figure. His dark eyes had lost none of their fire, and the 
dark hair having turned slightly gray, gave an air of 
scholarly refinement to the rugged features. 

His address was a carefully summary of the best meth- 
ods of English agriculture, showing how the soil might 



44 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

be enriched instead of impoverished, by a wise system of 
rotation of crops. 

He soon found himself however in the in;dst of an ex- 
citing- political campaign and he threw himself into it 
with all his sonl. During the summer of 1840 he spoke 
in ^Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and \'irginia. 

It will be remembered that in 1833-34 he made sixty- 
four speeches in the Senate on the bank question, but he 
did more than this, during that campaign, and imder more 
difficult circmnstances. He was now compelled to ex- 
plain the subject of national finance to large audiences who 
were more or less ignorant of the subject, but he achieved 
a wonderful success, showing that he was entirely capa- 
ble of reaching the masses, and still retain the dignity of 
the statesman. 

His speeches were not onh- listened to by thousands, 
but they were published, and read by tens of thousands. 

His eloquent words fell upon willing ears, for the peo- 
ple were smarting under the lash of "hard times," and 
they readily sympathized with the orator who so severely 
criticized Jackson, and so earnestly demanded a change in 
the political administration of the government. The re- 
sult was an oxerwhelming victory for the Whigs, and tlie 
Jackson democracy was buried bcnealli a ''land-slide." 

I\Ir. Webster had been re-elected to the Senate in Jan- 
uar\- of 1839 for the six year term, and liad taken his seat 
at the first session of the Twenty Sixth Congress on the 
29th of Januan*', 1840. 

General Harrison liaving been elected by an over- 
wlKhuing majority, turned to Webster and Clay as his 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 45 

strongest supporters inviting tliem to Cabinet positions — 
Clav declined, bnt Webster accepted the portfolio of the 
State Department, and resigning his seat in the Senate 
February 22, 1841, he took his place in the Cabinet 
the following March. 

Before the new President took his seat he had prepared 
a grandiloquent inaugural speech, and came to Washing- 
ton with his manuscript loaded ^vith allusions to Roman 
history. He handed this to the man who was to be the 
Secretary. of State, for his approval, and doubtless expect- 
ing to be complimented upon his classical knowledge. 
Webster was annised, but the situation was too grave to 
be passed by with a smile, and after the exercise of a 
great deal of patience and tact, he succeeded in pruning 
the inau"-ural down to a much better literarv condition. 
When he returned that evening to the house of the 
friend where he was stopping, he looked so weary and 
anxious that the lady of the house asked him if anything 
had happened. 

"You would think something had happened," replied 
Webster, "if you knew what I have been doing — I have 
killed seventeen Roman pro-consuls." It had been a 
cruel proceeding to poor Harrison, no doubt, for his clas- 
sical allusions were very dear to his literary vanit\-, but 
the finer mental training of Webster fortunately prevailed. 
After only one month of official life Gen. Harrison 
suddenly died, and the duty of settling the form to be ob- 
served on such occasions devolved upon ]Mr. Webster. 

When President Tyler was inaugurated, he earnestly 
requested the Secretary of State to remain at his po-t, and 



46 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



subsequent developments proved the \visdoni of his choice. 
At the opening of this administration, our relations 
with Eng^land were such, that war seemed almost inevi- 
table. The unsettled condition of our north-eastern 
boundarv had been a source of irritation to both coun- 
tries for more than fifty years, 
and the problem now seemed 
to be as far from settlement as 
ever, and indeed new compli- 
cations were constantly aris- 
ing'- 

It had been agreed that there 

should be a new survey and a 
new arbitration, and the prob- 
lem now before both countries, 
was the difficulty of finding 
seme one to survey and to ar- 
bitrate, who would l)e accepta- 
ble to all parties. After the adjustment of many annoy- 
ing complications, Mr. Webster proposed to agree upon a 
conventional line which had been made known to Eng- 
land l)y the British Minister, Mr. Vox. Soon afterward 
Lord Ashburton who was known to be friendly to the 
United States, was selected by Great Britain to go to 
Washington on a special mission. This envoy readied 
the Capitol in April of 1S42, and negotiations were im- 
mediately commenced. 

There were many complications .some of them being of 
a delicate nature, and one of these arose not long before 
the negotiations began. The Creole was a slave ship on 




John Tvlcr. Tenth PresiUciil. 
Uoiii 1790. Dieil 1«G'J. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 47 

which the negroes succeeded in obtaining the control, and 
taking possession of her, they carried her into an Eng- 
lish port in the West Indies where assistance was refused 
to the crew, and the slaves were allowed to go free. 

This was an incident concerning which England was 
very sensitive, and the Southern States exceedingly in- 
dignant, and it required a great deal of tact and careful 
statesmanship on the part of our Secretary, to avoid this 
rock of bitterness until the main issue could be adjusted. 

]\Iaine and Massachusetts were in trouble because in 
the proposed adjustments they were to be losers, while 
the benefits which were derived by the Unitfed States ac- 
crued to New Hampshire and Vermont 

i\Ir. Webster allayed the irritation here, by proposing 
that the United States indemnify these states in money 
for their lost territory. He finally succeeded in obtaining 
the consent of the State Commissioners. The right of 
search which was claimed by England, for the suppression 
of the slave trade was compromised by a clause which 
enabled each nation to keep its own squadron on the 
coast of Africa, and they were to enforce separately the 
laws of each government. 

In the case of the Creole^ Webster argued that the ne- 
groes were demanded not because they were slaves, but 
because they were mutineers and murderers. The re- 
sult was the preparation of a clause which carefully 
avoided any obligation on the part of England to 
return fugitive slaves, but it did require the extradition of 
criminals. 

]\Ir. Webster also wrote a forcible letter to Lord Ash- 



48 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

burton on the subject of impressment which had been the 
cause of the trouble of 1812. 

He declared that if they took sailors out of our vessels, 
we would flight. The statement was couched to be sure, 
in more diplomatic terms, to the effect that, in future ''in 
every American merchant vessel, the crew wlio navifj^ate 
the ship, will find their protection in the (la^j; which is 
over them." 

This simple statement on the part of our Secretary 
settled the whole matter, and it is now re^^arded as an 
important principle of international law. 

Tlius l)y careful diplomacy, a lon_2^ and threatening in- 
ternational dispute was settled, at a lime when Great 
Britain was making active preparations for war. 

It was one of the nio.st important as well as one of the 
most successful diplomatic cases in the history of our 
country, and in conducting it, Mr. Webster did not hesi- 
tate to call in tlie best legal assistant coun.-^el witliin his 
reach, being especially aided b}- the able atl\ice of his 
old friend Judge Story, wlio.se assistance he was not al- 
wa\s generous enough to publicly acknowledge. 

It is known that this well known treaty had a stormy 
pa.ssage both through the I'niied States Senate, and 
through the British Parliament, but finally the complica- 
tions were adjusted. 

E)vcn after this, dcncral Cass who was then our min- 
ister to France, not only ]>rotested against the treaty and 
denounced it, but actually ihrealeneil to lea\e his post 
on acet)unt of it. 

This led to a public correspondence in which Ca.sswas 



1 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



49 



compelled to acknowledge that he was completely defeat- 
ed by the Secretary of State. This was the last import- 
ant war of words on this subject, and the work was ac- 
cepted b)' both countries as being complete. 

During many long years of public life ]\Tr. Webster 
found nuich of 
rest and comfort 
in his country 
home at Marsh- 
field. This was a 
fine estate on the 
shore of the sea, 
and the monoton- 
ous rhythm of the 
breakers soothed 
his tired nerves. 

His own descrip- 
tion of this prop- 
erty is found in a 
letter which was 
written to Mrs. 
C u s t i s, bearing 
date of May 26, 
1842. 

"An old fashioned two story house," he writes,"with a 
l)iazza all around it, stands on a gentle rising, facing due 
south, and distant fifty rods from the road. 

"Beyond the road is a ridge of hilly land, not very high, 
covered with oak wood, running in the same direction as 
the road, and leaving a little depression exactly opposite 




Lewis Cass. Aincricaii Statesman. 
Born 1782. Died 18G6. 



50 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

the house through which the southern breezes fan us of 
an afternoon. I feel them now, coming, not over beds of 
violets, but over Plymouth Bay— fresh if not fragrant. 

"A carriage-way leads from the road to the house, not 
bold and impudent, right up straight to the front door, like 
the march of a column of soldiers, but winding over the 
lower parts of the ground, sheltering itself among trees 
and hedges, and getting possession at last, more by grace 
than by force, as other achievements are best made. 

"Two other houses are in sight, one a farm house, cot- 
tage built, at the end of an avenue, so covered up with 
an orchard as to l)e hardly visible; the other, a little 
farther off in the saiiK- direction, very neat and pretty, 
with a beautiful field of grass l)y its side. 

"Opposite the east window of the east front room, stands 
a noble spreading elm, the admiration of all beholders. 
Beyond that, is the garden sloping to the east, and run- 
nino- down until the tide washes the lower wall. 

"Back of the house are such vulgar things as barns; and 
on the other side, that is, to the uovlh and norlhwist is a 
fresh pond of some extent, with green grass growing down 
to its margin, and a good walk all around it. On one 
side, the walk passes through a thick belt of trees, plant- 
ed by the same hand that now indites this description. 

"I sav nothing of orchards and copses and clumps be- 
cause such things may be seen in vulgar places. But 
now comes the climax. From the doors, from the win- 
dows, and still better from twentv little elevations, all of 
which are close by, you sec the t)ceau, reposing in calm, 
or terrific in storm, as the case may be. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 51 

"There, now you have Marshfield, and let us recapitu- 
late. 

"ist. The ocean — when that is mentioned, enough is 
said. 

"2nd. A dry pure air, — not a bog nor a ditch, noranin- 



-<\ 







Marshfield, the Home of Daniel Webster. 

fernal gutter within five miles — not a particle of exhalation 
but from the ocean, and a running New England stream. 

"3rd. A walk of a mile, always fit for ladies feet (when 
not too wet ) through the orchard and the belt of timber. 

"4th. Five miles of excellent hard beach driving on the 
sea shore. A region of pine forest, three miles back, dark 
and piney in appearance and in smell, as you ever wit- 
nessed in the remotest interior." 

It was here that he enjoyed the fresh air, and spent 
much of his time in looking after the comfort of the do- 
mestic animals. He prided himself, upon possessin 
the finest horses, sheep, swine and fowls in the vicinity. 



cr 



52 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



Of his oxen he was especially fond, and he knew all of 
his sturdy healthful animals by name. 

On his return from Washington he would go into the 
house and greet the family, and then without stopping to 
sit down, would go out to the barn to see the dumb mem- 
bers of his larger family, going from one to the other, pat- 
ting them, stroking their faces and feeding them from 
his hand. 

He was especially fond of showing them to his guests 

and one day, as 
he stood beside 
a friend, feeding 
the oxen with 
ears of corn, his 
son Fletcher 
amused himself 
l)v playing with 
a dog. 

"My son," said Mr. Webster, "you do not seem to care 
much for this. For my part, I like it; I would rather 
be here than in the Senate — I find better company." 

It is said that only about a week before his death, he 
had his fine oxen driven up before the house, that he might 
again look upon their sleek forms, and into their beauti- 
ful eyes. 

It was here, in this beloved ^larshfield, that he enjoyed 
fishing in company with his sturdy sailor, and boatman, 
Seth Peterson Peterson was a queer old salt whom Mr. 
Webster had picked up, and who was his constant com- 
panion on the water for fifteen years. He was a quick- 




Settcc from lUe House of Wobstor ;U Maishlirhl. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 53 

witted, hiimeroiis old fellow, and IMr. Webster used to 
credit liiiii with many bright speeches. 

Althonoh his relations with President Tyler were cor- 
dial, sonic political complications arose which were dis- 
tasteful to him, and in the spring- of 1843 ^^^ resigned his 
position in the Cabinet, and retired to his beloved home 
in Marshfield. 

His work had been eminently successful, ha\'ing given 
valuable service to the country during a critical period of 
her foreign relations, and no one except possibly John 
Adams had attained greater success in the administration 
of the State Department than did Daniel Webster. 

He was counted one of the best farmers in the country 
even though his estates were administered with the same 
eeneral financial carelessness which characterized all his 
business. He never kept regular accounts, nor had them 
kept, and no doubt his two beautiful farms were a source 
of more expense than income. He could earn money eas- 
ilv in his profession, but he had very little judgment 
about using it, and his unfortunate investments, more than 
once called for the kindly assistance of his friend, who 
relieved him from embarrassment. 

Perhaps he never enjoyed ]\Iarshfield more than at this 
time when it was frequently cheered by the presence of 
his daughter, ]\Irs. Appleton. His library was now placed 
in a room which she had planned for it, and here he spent 
many hours of happy work, while from every window he 
could catch glimpses of the fields, the streams, the hills 
and the ocean. 

In these palmy days on the Marshfield estate, his table 



54 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

was largely supplied from the products of his own farm. 
Besides the fresh vegetables, there were also his own beef, 
mutton and poultr}', with fish that swam the same morn- 
ing in the ocean, or in stream, and the wild fowl which 
were found on his own domain. 

All that an old fashioned New England garden and or- 
chard could furnish in the way of fruit, added to the din- 
ner. Mr. Webster was not a large eater but was some- 
what critical in his tastes. He was especially fond of 
brown bread — said he did not see how anyone could live 
without it, and the fishes fresh from the sea, or in the 
case of the cod, salted over night and then broiled, were 
greatly to his taste. 

Durinof this summer he delivered the second Bunker 
Hill address upon the completion of the monument. It 
was largely through the influence of the speech upon the 
laying of the corner stone, that the public interest had 
been kept alive until the people were enabled to complete 
the most imposing monumental structure which had then 
ever been erected upon American soil. 

The restin<r times of Mr. Webster were few and far 
between, and in 1844 when Henry Clay was nominated for 
the Presidency, he gave hini a vigorous support. Dining 
this campaign he made a scries of powerful speeches, 
mostly upon the tariff. Clay was defeated but it was 
impossible for Webster to keep out of politics, and when 
Choate resigned in tlic winUr of 1844-45 he was 
again elected senator from Massachusetts. In March of 
1845, he took his seat in the Senate for his last term. 

He was absent when the scheming and intrigue of 



C3 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



55 



Polk and others culminated in the war with Mexico, so 
that his vote was not given either way, but he resisted the 
drafting system, opposed the continued prosecution of 
-the war, and especially deprecated the acquisition of new 
territory by conquest claiming that it threatened the very 
existence of the na- 
tion, the principles 
of the Constitution 
and the Constitution 
itself. This war, 
however, cost him 
dearly, for his second 
son, Edward Web- 




ster, died at San 
Angel, eight miles 
from the City of 
]Mexico, of typhoid 
fever wliich had 
been contracted on 
the march. Young 
Webster was a ma- 
jor in the regnnent 
of Massachusetts 
Volunteers ser^-ing in Mexico. He was accompanied by 
a faithful negro servant by the name of Henry Pleasants, 
who had lived with Mr. Webster for a long time. 

Henry had been a slave in a family where Mr. Web- 
ster boarded in Washington, and being cruelly treated 
there, the northern statesman had bought him, and given 
him his freedom. He was now married however, and 



James K. Polk. Eleventh President. 
Born 1795. Died 1849. 



56 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

when Edward expressed a wish for him to go with him, 
it was thought doubtful whether he would be williug to 
go. But he was so strongly attached to Webster and his 
family, that when the soldier proposed it to him, he re- 
plied: ''I will go with you, ^Master Edward, to the ends 
of the earth." 

The voung officer had one severe illness soon after 
reaching Mexico, and returned home broken in health 
and with the firm conviction, that only the faithful care of 
Henry had saved his life. When he had partly recov- 
ered his health, he determined to rejoin his regiment, and 
the faithful negro insisted upon again going with him. 
But although he had the same affectionate watchfulness 
and service, Edward Webster died in a foreign land when 
only twenty eight years of age. 

Henry brought the body home, and willi it ihe favor- 
ite horse which Edward had continued to watch and feed 
from his bed room window during his illness. 

:\Ir. Webster told the story to Mr. Ticknor, and while 
the tears were streaming down his cheeks, he added: "I 
paid five liundred dollars for Henry, and it was the best 
spent money that I ever laid out in my life." 

The body arrived in Boston, May i, only a few hours 
before the loved k)rm of his sister, Mrs. Apjileton, was con- 
signed to the tomb, she having died on April the twenty, 
eighth. The bodv of Edward was taken to the same 
tomb on the fourth of May, under military escort, and at- 
tended bv relatives and friends. A most appropriate and 
fervent religious service having been held at the house of 
Mr. Paige, the brother-in-law of Mr. Webster. 



DAXIKL WEBSTKR. 57 

"On the tenth of :\Iay,'' I\Ir. Webster writes/'I planted 
two weeping ehns on the lawn in front of the honse at 
Marshfield, as a kind of memorial to the memory of a lost 
son and danghter. They are to be called 'The Brother 
and Sister,' There were present myself and wafe, and 
my son Daniel Fletcher Webster,and wife, and my dangh- 
ter's two eldest children, viz. Caroline LeRoy Appleton, 
and Samnel Appleton. My danghter left five children, 
bnt Edward Webster was never married.'' 

These two deaths coming so near together were a ter- 
rible blow to the fond father, but a public man cannot 
lineer at the tomb of his dear ones. He was sustained bv 
the strong comfort of the Christian hope, being a firm be- 
liever in revealed as well as natural leligion. 

Devotional tenderness was always the deepest cord in 
his nature, and it responded promptl)- to the needs of his 
great heart, when terrible t;-onble came to him. 

One child only, remained to hiui now, of all the 
little famih- which had gathered around him in the happy 
days at Portsmouth and Boston, and he went sadly at 
work to prepare for his family and hiuiself, a resting place 
at ^larshfield. 

As soon as he ctfuld control himself suflficiently, he again 
returned to the post of duty at Washington where con- 
siderable political changes had taken place during his en- 
forced absence. He was in his seat on the twenty-ninth 
of the May which had been the scene of so much snffer- 
ing to himself and family. 

By all the laws of political justice, Mr. Webster should 
have been the nominee of his party for the Presidency at 



58 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

this time, but the victories of General Taylor in Mexico 
made him a temptino- candidate and a movement was set 
on foot to bring about this nomination, the managers 
planning to give Webster the second place on the ticket, 
and thereby a\-ail themselves of his great popularity, and 
invaluable services. 

But j\Ir. Webster strongly disapproved of military' men 
for the office of President of the United States, especially 

in cases where militar}' suc- 
cess was the only qualifica- 
tion for office. The position 
which the administration 
under Ta)dor, would take iu 
reference to the questions 
connected with tlie incor- 
poration into the Union of 
the newly acquired territory, 
was not known. 

Besides this, there was the 
bitter disappointment, and 
we cannot wonder that he spurned the offer of a second 
place on the ticket as a personal insult, and openl\- re- 
fused to endorse Taylor's candidacy. Henry Clay was 
also a candidate, and altliough when tire convention was 
assembled, Massachusetts voted steadil>- fur Webster, Tay- 
lor was nominated. 

Webster was soreh- templed to j^o home and rest and 
leave the party to the fate which it so richly deserved, 
but loyalty to the okl standard came to the rescue, and 
he made a sj^eech at Marshfield, in which he said that 




Zachary Tiivlor. Twelfih ProsideiU. 
Bom 17H4. Uic'il 1k5i». 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 5Q 

"the nomination was not fit to be made" but he argued 
that General Taylor was personally a brave and honorable 
man, and as the choice lay between him and the Demo- 
cratic candidate, General Cass, he should vote for Taylor 
and advise all his friends to do so. 

After Taylor was elected and before he was inaugurated, 
in the winter of 1848—49, there began a conflict in Con- 
gress wdiich led to the delivery of Webster's celebrated 
address on '"The Compromises qf the Constitution." 

This speech which called forth much severe criticism, 
was strongly in favor of the Union. Indeed his great love 
for the Union was apparently the cause of the great mis- 
take of his life which was voiced in this speech, for as he 
advanced in years he l)ccame so anxious for peace between 
the North and South, that he advocated the great compro- 
mise of Henry Clay in regard to slavery. 

The main features of the compromise being the admis- 
sion of California with her free Constitution; the organi- 
zation of the acquired territory without reference to slav- 
ery ; a guaranty of the existence of slavery in the District 
of Columbia, until IMaryland should consent to its aboli- 
tion; provision for the more effectual enforcement of the 
Fugitive Slave Law, and a declaration that Congress had 
no power over the sla\-e trade, between the slave holding- 
states, 

Webster, the invincible, had become anxious for peace 
at any price, and he felt that the rising tide of the free soil 
movement in the north must be checked, or civil war and 
possiblv a disruption of the Union would result. 

He wished to act as a peace maker between the aggres- 



6o 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



/ 



sive South, bound together by slaver}', as the greatest po- 
litical force in the country, and the Free Soil partv witli 
its earnest moral sentiment without political power. 

But "God and one make a majority," and a few vears 
more, saw the little Free Soil party in 1856 polling nearly 
a million and a half of votes for Fremont. After that, its 
strides were magnificent, but freedom was blood bouoht, 

and dearly our Republic 
paid for the support which 
she had given to a great 
and terrible wronjj. 

General Taylor died sud- 
denly on July 9, 1S50, and 
F'illmore succeeded to the 
Presidency. He at once of- 
fered the portfolio of State 
to ^Ir. \\\bstcr, who ac- 
cepted it, resigned his seat 

Millard Fillmore. Tbirltrulh I'resident ^'^ ^^^^' Senate,and OU July 2^, 
liurn ls,.u. Died 1«74. aSSUUlcd the UCW positiou. 

It is true that during the second term of oflice as Sec- 
retary of State, there was no irreat international nciroti- 
ation like that of the Ashburton treaty, but tb.erc were 
many questions of an important character which were ad- 
justed with Mr. Webster's usual tact and ability. 

I>e.sideshis official duties, a vast amount of matter from 
his pen found its way into the public ]>rints, as his utter- 
ances njiou all important topics were freely circulated and 
read. 

In the meantime, another presidential elect;on was 




UANIKL WKBSTER. 6i 

drawing near, and another attempt was made to secnre the 
Whig nomination for Webster, 

It was evidently the last opportnnity which his coun- 
try would have for conferring this honor upon him, for 
he was now advancing in >-ears, and his health was by no 
means assured. His nomination was also desired by a 
large body of men throughout the country, who did not 
ordinarily take a very active interest in politics, but who 
looked to him as an exponent of the highest principles, as 
well as a representative of the greatest ability of the nation. 
His administration of the Department of State had al- 
ways been considered prudent and successful, while his 
services to the party seemed to make him the legitimate 
candidate. 

His friends made a formal and organized movement, the 
Webster delegates being led by Mr. Choate who went to 
Washington, before the convention assembled, to inter- 
view his chief. Choate himself was not ver>' hopeful of 
the result, but he found Webster so sure of the nomina- 
tion, and so happy in his approaching success, that he 
had not the heart to communicate his own fears. 

The Whig convention assembled in Balti\nore on the 
loth of June, 1S52, and remained in session six days. 
The nomination of Webster might have been secured but 
for the fact, that a large numl^er of delegates had come 
with the determination of making Fillmore the candidate. 
Through fifty-two successive ballots, the great majority 
continued to divide their votes between Fillmore and 
Webster, tlius making it probable that in the end General 
Scott would be the successful candidate. And thus it 



62 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



happened, for on the fifty-third ballot, Scott received more 
than the necessary number of votes, and poor Webster 
was again bitterly disappointed. 

The most brilliant man by far in his party, and one 

^vho had given a 
long life to the ad- 
vancing of her inter- 
ests, was in the end 
ignored by the very 
men he had so faith- 
, fully served. It was 
■.% little wonder that the 
I old party as such 
\^ scarcely sur\ived his 
' death. 

Mr. Webster's 
health had not been 
very good for some 
time, and he seemed 
to fail faster after 
this last great dis- 
appointment. In May 
of 1S52 while driving near Marshficld, he had been 
thrown from his carriage and severely injured, and 
during the following summer he failed rapidly. At the 
earnest request of the President however, he retained his 
position, and continued to transact the business of his de- 
partment until the 8th of September when he returned to 
Marshficld, never again to visit the capital of his countr\'. 
The distinguished patient seemed to feel that his life work 




General WintieUl Scott. 
Boru 1780. Died IHCG. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 63 

was done. On vSunday evening of October loth liis friend, 
and secretary,G. J. Abbott, was with him, and ]\Ir. Webster 
desired him to read aloud the iiinth chapter of St. Mark's 
Gospel, and afterwards requested him to turn to the tenth 
chapter of John. He then dictated an inscription which 
he said was to be placed upon his monument. A few 
days later (on the 15th) he revised and corrected this doc- 
ument with his own hand, wrote out a fair copy and 
siofired it. It reads as follows: 

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." 

"Philosophical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of 
the universe, in comparison with the apparent insi^jniticance of this 
globe, has sometimes shaken my reason for the faith that is in me; but 
my heart has assured and reassured me, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ 
must be a Divine Reality. 

"The Sermon on the Mount cannot be a merely human production. 
This belief enters into the very depth of my conscience. The whole 
history of man proves it. 

(Signed) Dan'l Webster." 

When he first dictated this inscription, he said to Mr. 
Abbott: "If I get- well and write the book on Christianity, 
about which we have talked, we can attend more fully to 
this matter. But if T should be taken away suddenly, I 
do not wish to leave any duty of this kind unperformed. 
I want to leave somewhere, a declaration of my belief in 
Christianity. I do not wish to go into any doctrinal dis- 
tinctions in regard to the person of Jesus, but T wish to 
express my belief in His divine mission." 

His patriotism also remained strong and healthful even 
while the body grew weaker. He had a little boat on the 
pond back of his house, and during his illness he gave 
orders to have the flag run up to the mast-head and illu- 



64 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

mined by a lantern, so that the stars and stripes were 
there to cheer his sleepless hours at ni<;ht, ss long as he 
lived. He said it comforted him to see it there, and see 
the flag too. 

It is ver}' strange that a man of Webster's legal ability 
and sturdy common sense, should have left the making of 
his last will and testament until these da}s of physical 
weakness, but he did. 

When he began to dictate his will, he said to the man 
who wrote it, that he had always liked the old fashion of 
commencing such instruments with religious expressions 
and with a recognition of one's dej^endence upon God. 
"Follow the old forms, "said he, "and do not let me go out 
of the world without acknowledging my JMaker." 

When the will was finished, he asked whether Mrs. 
Webster and his son Fletcher had seen it, and whether 
they approved it? They both assured him that they fully 
a.sscnted to it. Then said he, "Let me sign it now. " And 
affixing his sitrnature, stronglv and clearlv written, he 
.said, "Thank God for strength to do a sensible act." Then 
iinincdiately and with great solemnity, he raised both 
hands and added, "Oh God! I thank thee for all thy mer-* 



cies." 



After a time, he began to repeat the Lord's Prayer, Init 
aftr^r the first sentence he began to feel faint, when he 
called (lilt: "Mold me up, 1 do not wish to pray in a faiiil- 
ing voice." Having been elevated on the pillows he re\er- 
ently repeated the whole prayer, then ended his devotions 
with words of praise, ond expressions of "Peace on earth 
and good will to men." 



J^^,^ , ^ /^.^^ f^ ,r^ ^ ^^^ ..^^^ 

Reduced Fac-Similo of a Letter "Written liy Webster to 
Mr. A. M. IJlaiehford, April 21, 1851. 



66 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

On the evening of October 2 3 he fell asleep, profonndly 
grateful for the good he had been permitted to do, and 
with a sublime faith in the future life. 

The whole country felt the shock, when it was said 
that he was dead. People remembered his splendid pub- 
lic service and the majesty of his personal presence, and 
they felt that one of the pillars of the State had fallen. 

Tn his will he had said, "I wish to be buried without 
the least show or ostentation, but in a manner respectful 
to my neighbors, whose kindness has contributed so much 
to the happiness of me and mine, and for whose prosper- 
ity, I offer sincere prayers to God." Therefore the funer- 
al arrangements were simple, although the President of 
the United States sent an agent of the State Department 
to propose a public funeral, and to take charge of it in the 
name, and with the resources of the government. The 
public feeling throughout the country was in full sym- 
pathy with the desire of the Chief Magistrate, but when 
Mr. Webster's wishes became known, all his friends felt 
that the most appropriate funeral honors which could be 
paid him were those which he himself had desired. On 
Friday, October 29tli, 1852, there was a fervent religious 
ser\'ice in his own home, and the gates of his spacious 
lawn were thrown open. 

The casket was placed upon a niountl of flowers, and 
the multitude swept through the grounds, passing by the 
maje.stic form, and looking reverently upon the familiar 
features. There wcn^ ti n tlionsand people who came to 
Marshlield en tliat beautiful autumn da)-, wluu lb-- ma- 
ples were scarlet in the woods, and the Indian ?'unmer 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 67 

had thrown her mantle of golden haze over land and sea. 

The wealth and intellect of America were represented 
there, bnt there were also the servants and humbler friends 
of him whom thev mourned. One unknown man, in rus- 
tic o-arb bent for a moment over the casket and said pa- 
thetically: ''The world without you, Daniel Webster will 
be lonesome." 

The fame of an author is comparativeh- safe because 
his work is placed in permanent form. But the elo- 
quence of the orator is a thini^ of the hour. He sways 
liis audience very much as he wills, but the people pass 
away from his influence and often even forget the mighty 
impulse which has stirred them. 

There are however at least four of the world's or- 
ators, whose speeches ha\-e attained a place among the 
great classics. 

Demosthenes, Cicero, Burke and Webster will be re- 
membered in the world of letters as long as force, polish, 
and eloquence are counted as necessary features of liter- 
ature. When compared with the masterpieces of his pred- 
ecessors, Webster's speeches stand the test. We need 
not fear that American oratory will fall below the earlier 
standards. 

The temporary excitement of the times had passed, and 
his work receives its full quota of appreciation at the 
hands of the generations of critics who come after him. 



68 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

ANECDOTES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DANIEL WEBSTER. 

TRIBUTE TO HIS FATHER. 

It will be remembered that during the Harrison cam- 
paign, as during that of Lincoln, much prominence was 
eiven to the humble birth of the candidate. In Webster's 
address at Saratoga in behalf of the Whigs, he said: 

"It did not happen to me gentlemen to be born in a 
log- cabin, but niv elder brothers and.sisters were born in 
a log cabin, raised among the snow drifts of New Hamp- 
shire, at a period so early, that when the smoke first rose 
from its rude chimney, and curled over the frozen hills, 
there was no similar evidence of a white man's habitation 
between it and the settlements on the rivers of Canada. 

"Its remains still exist. I make to it an annual visit, I 
carry my children there, to tell them of the hardships en- 
dured by the generations which have gone before them. 
I love to dwell upon the tender recollections, the kindred 
ties, the early affections, and the touching narratives and 
incidents which mingle with all I know of this primitive 
family abode. 

"And if ever I am ashamed of it, or if ever 1 fail in affect- 
ionate veneration for him who reared it, defended it against 
savao-e violence, and (kslruction, — who cherished all do- 
mcstic virtues beneath its roof, if ever I fail in affect- 
ionate veneration for him, who through the fire and blood 
of a seven years Revolutionary war, shrunk from no dan- 
ger, no toil, no sacrifice, to .serve his country and to raise 
his children to a condition better than his own— may my 
name be blotted forever from the memory of mankind." 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 69 

METHODS OF EBENEZER WEBSTER. 

Durin<2^ the \var of the Revolution, Captain Webster 
was appointed one of the committee to ascertain how much 
each townsman of Salisbury oug-ht to contribute toward 
the expenses of the war, and to lev}' a proportionate tax. 

The richest man in town, had done no military duty, 
but nevertheless he declared that his assessment was too 
high, and he refused to pay it. The connnittee waited 
upon him in vain, but at last Webster as their spokesman 
drew his six feet of stature up to its full height, while his 
wonderful black eyes seemed to fairly look through the 
man, and with a strong emphasis in his sonorous voice, 
he said: 

''Sir, ourauthorties require us to pay, a«<af fight. Now 
you must pay (97- fight. " 

The man looked at the powerful figure before him, and 
gave a single glance into the flashing eyes, and this was 
sufficient, he very promptly decided to pay. 

WEBSTER'S MOTHER. 

The mother of Daniel Webster was another instance in 
illustration of the theory that "the more mother a man 
has in him, the better he is." 

She was of sturdy New England stock, rich in affection. 
Christian faith and sterling common sense. Always be- 
lieving in her b. v she tenderly cherished him during a 
feeble childhood in the firm faith that a long and useful 
life lay before him. 

It was thought at one time that the ocean air might 
do him good and although the nearest coast was a long 



70 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



way off, the undaunted mother took her puny babe in her 
arms and made the journey on horseback even though 
it took several days to accomplish it. 

Webster used often to repeat this story and sometimes 
he would exclaim, ''There was a mother for you!" 

HOW THE STUDENTS HOOTED WEBSTER. 

James Russell Low- 
ell and vSome other 
young- students of 
American politics 
did not approve of 
Webster's course in 
remainiuQ- in the cab- 
inetof President Ty- 
ler. William Wet- 
more Story tells of 
their indignation and 
resolutions concern- 
inof the mailer in 
the following wttrds: 
"Janies Iv i> \\' el 1 
and 1 were very an- 
gry with Webster, 
and as he was to speak in I'aneuil Hall the evening of 
llic 30th of vSeptember, 1^42, some of us determined to 
go in from llic- Harvard law school, and hool at hiui, to 
show him that he had iiieuired our displeasure. 

"There were about three thousand ])eople present, and 
we felt sure that they would hoot with us, young as we 




James Russell Lowell. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 71 

were. Bat we reckoned without our host. Mr. Web- 
ster stepped forward. His great eyes looked, as I shall 
always think, straight at me. I pulled off my hat. 
James j)ulled off his. We both became as cold as ice, 
and as respectful as Indian coolies. I saw James turn 
pale. He said I was livid. And when that great crea- 
ture began that most beautiful exordium, our scorn 
turned to deepest admiration — from abject contempt, to 
belief and approbation." 

ROMAN MATRONS. 

Speaking one day, of the early Romans, Mr. Webster 
scAd tliat he could almost believe everything related by 
historians of their extraordinary virtues, public and do- 
mestic, when he dwelt upon the fact that though their 
laws authorized divorce, yet for the first five hundred 
years, no individual ever availed himself of such a license. 

"It was the domestic training" he said; "It was the 
7}iothcrs who made a Publicola, a Camillus, and Coriola- 
nus. Women protected by th.e inviolability of the nup- 
tial bond, were invested with a dignity that gave author- 
ity to instruction, and made the domestic hearth the nur- 
sery of heroes. 

' 'Public virtue," he said, "fell with prixate morality. 
Under imperial Rome, divorces were sought for, and ob- 
tained under the most frivolous pretexts, and all domes- 
tic confidence was destroyed. The inevitable consequence 
was the loss of all public morality. Men who had been 
false to their private obligations, would not be true to 
their public duties; Caesar divorced his wife, and betrayed 



72 DAXIEL WEBSTER. 

his countr}'. The sanctity of the nuptial bond, is, in 
my opinion, one of the principal, if not the chief cause 
of the superior refinement, freedom, and prosperity en- 
joyed at the present time by Christian nations." 

LITERARY STYLE. 

In reply to the question concerning the formation of 
his literary style, Daniel Webster answered: ''When I 
was a \onn^- man, a student in college, I deliYcred a Fourth 
ofJuK' oration. I\Iy friends thought so well of it that 
they requested a copy of it for the press. 

"It was printed, and Joseph Dennie, a writer of great 
reputation at that time, wrote a rcYiew of it. He praised 
parts of the oration as vigorous and eloquent; but other 
parts, he criticised severely and said that they were mere 
emptiness. 

"I thought his criticism was just, and I resolved that 
whatever else should be said of my st>le, from that time 
forth, there would be no emptiness in it. 

"I read such English authors as fell in my way — par- 
ticularly Addison, with great care. Besides I remembered 
that I had to earn uw 1)read by addressing the understand- 
ing of common men — by convincing juries, and that I 
must use language perfectly intelligible to them. You 
will find therefore, in my speeches to juries, no hard 
words, ni) Latin phrase. 

"I early felt the importance of thought. 1 have rewrit- 
ten sentence after sentence and pondered long upon each 
alteration. For depend upon it, it is with our tlioughts 
as with our persons — their intrinsic value is mostly un- 
dervalued unless expressed in attractive garb. 






<2^^, 
















Reduced Fac-Simile of the Oriplnul Manuscript of Webster's Speech In 

the Senate Re},'iirdin>,' the Reduciion of the Supreme aud 

Circuit Judges of the U. S. Courts. 



74 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

''Longinus tells us that the most sublime passage to be 
found in any language is this: 'And God said, Let there 
be light and there was light' — the greatest effort of pow- 
er in the tersest and fewest words — the command and the 
record, one exertion of thought. So should we all aim 
to express things in words." 

Again he says: "From the time that at my mother's 
feet, or on my father's knees I first learned to lisp verses 
from the Sacred Writings, they have been my daily study 
and vigilant contemplation, 

"If there be anything in my style or thoughts worthy to 
be commended, the credit is due to m\- parents, for in- 
stilling into my mind an early love for the scriptures." 

FAVORITE STUDIES. 

]\Ir. Webster was fond of some of the Latin authors, and 
one day he read to his friend Professor Felton several 
pages from Cicero's De Naiura Deono)/. He clios:; that 
portion of the dialogue in which one of the spcikers 
discourses most eloquently on the Divine Being, snd in 
refutation of tlie Epicurean philosophy. 

''The deep feeling,and the earnest tone," writes P^dton, 
''with which he read the harmonious Latin senten :es of 
the great Roman gave the fullest meaning to these im- 
mortal speculations; and recommending the passage to 
the careful stiuh' of his guest, he closed the volume and 
retired." 

In subsequent conversation, Mr. Webster spoke oi* his 
love of science, and the attention he had bestowed upon 
it, in the fragments of time snatched from other aiid more 
absorbing pursuits. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 75 

His knowledge of geology was quite extensive, and he 
had studied the principal works on this subject in connec- 
tion with trips which were made through interesting ge- 
ological regions* He had also employed a competent 
scholar to make a collection of specimens for him, arrang- 
ing them on the shelves in the order of the successive 
layei^ of the crust of the earth, in order that while study- 
ing in his library, he might see before him the arrange- 
ment of Nature. 

Anio:ig the books which occupied his thoughts largely 
during the last year of his life, Humboldt's "Cosmos" held 
a prominent place. He had read it through, carefully 
noting its contents. He quoted passages from it, with 
exprcssicns of admiration for their scientific precision and 
poetic beauty. His general remarks upon the plan and 
details of the work, showed that he fully appreciated it. 

He spoke with regret of the fact that he had so seldom 
enjoyed for any length of time, the , societ\- of scientific 
and literary men. ''I have kept very bad company," he 
laughingly said, "I have lived among lawyers, and judges, 
jurymen and politicians, when 1 should have lived with 
Nature and in company with students of Nature." 

FORGIVENESS. 

Mr. Web-ster's .secretary, G. J. Abbott, while with him 
at !\larshficld daring his last illness, writes to a friend 
under date of September 12, of a stormy Sundax in the 
great house. 

"This day has been stormy, and we did not go to 
church. This morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Webster, 



76 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

with their guests and servants, had assembled in the li- 
brary for family prayers, Mr. Webster looked so weak and 
feeble that, Mrs. Webster asked if I shonld not read the 
chapter. 

"He preferred reading himself,and selected that beanti- 
ful chapter of vSt. Luke, the sixth, which contains a part 
of the Sermon on the Monnt. His reading of the Scrip- 
tures is grand, slow, distinct, impressive, giving new force 
to every sentence. 

"When he came to those verses which follow the twenty- 
sixth, it seemed as if they were the expression of his 
own inmost feelings. 

"After each clause of these verses which he read — "But 
I say unto you which hear. Love your enemies, do good 
to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and 
pray for them which despitefully use )'ou" — he paused, 
as if he were asking himself the question, whether he 
read these words, in the spirit of Him who first uttered 
them, and exhibited in his own life and example, their 
practical application. 

"There was a triumphant tone, as he finished the 
verses, as thouuh he had heartilv forgivL-n those who had 
spoken ill of him, and \\\\o had despitefulh' used him. 
I was particularly strnck li\- it as .several of the Whig 
papers ha\e been abusing him in \er\' coarse terms, and 
he had doubtless seen them. 

"You have often heard me speak of his courtesy both 
in i1k- Senate, and the Department, to those who were 
politically opposed to him, and of the directions which 
he so frequently gave to those who were intrusted with 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 77 

the preparation of liis works for the press to omit or 
modify, where it could be done with propriety, all those 
passages in which he had spoken of others with nndiie 
severity — giving as a reason that he did not wish to per- 
petnate the remembrance of unpleasant personal, or par- 
ty contests. 

"Even after the disappointment of his hopes at Balti- 
more, he has never permitted himself to speak harshly or 
unkindly of those from whom he had a right to expect 
support. He has rarely alluded to the doings of the con- 
vention, or of those who took part in them. The sever- 
est expression which I ever heard him use in regard to 
them was, 'I shall be in— soon, and shall see these gen- 
tlemen, and think it is about time to shake hands with 
some of them and part; with others, I can part without 
shaking hands.' 

"But of one for whom he had always manifested a pa- 
ternal regard, wdiose course had bitterl)' disappointed 
him, he remarked with deepest emotion, 'That cut me 
to the heart.' " 

WEBSTER AND PINKNEY. 

\\'illiam Pinkney was the acknowledged head, and 
leader of the American bar, when Webster was admitted 
to practice before the Supreme Court at Washington. 
Like many another great man he had been largely 
spoiled by praise, and by the fact that when tlVe lesser 
lights had very important cases before the Supreme 
Court, they would employ him to take their briefs, and 
argue their cases — they doing the work, and he getting 
the greater portion of the reward. 



78 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

He probably expected Webster to pursue the same 
course, but he went along the even tenor of his ^vay, 
pleading his own cases,until Pinkney began to treat him 
with contempt, which was scarcely veiled even in the 
presence of the judges of that august tribunal. 

In one case where Pinknev was against him, this inso- 
lence of manner and speech became more pronounced, sc 
much so, that "Webster had hard work to control his tem- 
per even in court. He did so however, the incident was 
passed, but the case was not finished, when the court 
was adjourned until the next morning. 

]\Ir. Pinknc\- who was somewhat dudish in his dress, 
took his w hip and gloves, threw his handsome cloak over 
his arm and began to saunter away, when Webster went 
up to him, and said very calmly, "Can I seeyou alone in 
one of the lobbies?" 

He replied, ''Certainly,'' probably thinking that the 
time had come when he was t(^ be sought for help, as his 
great position demanded. 

Tlie>- passed to one of the grand jury rooms, which 
was rcUKtte from the main court room, and finding itemp- 
t\-, went in. I'nobserved by Pinkney, Webster turned 
the key and taking it out of the lock, placed it in his 
pocket. TIkii advancing toward him, hu said: 

".Mr. IMnkne\-,you grossly insulted me this morning in 
the court room, and not for the first time, either. In 
deference to your position, and to the respect which I 
have for the court, I did not answer you on the spot, as 
I was tempted to do." 

He began to deny it, but Webster continued; ''You 



e 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 7<3 

know you did — dont add another sin to that. Don't deny 
it; you know yon did it, and you know it was premedi- 
tated. It was deliberate, it was purposely done, and if 
you deny it, you tell an untruth.*' 

"Now," he contituied, "I am here to say to you once 
for all, tliat you must ask my pardon, and <;o into court 
tomorrow, and repeat the apology, or else, either yon or I, 
will oo out of this room in a different condition from that 
in which we entered it." 

Pinkney looked up into the blazing eyes, he quickly 
took in the magnificent physical proportions of the r.ian 
before him, and trembling, attempted again to explain. 

"There is no other course," said Webster, "I have th 
key of this room in my pocket, and you nnist apologize 
or take what I give you." 

The apology now was prompth' made, and the promise 
was reluctantly given that it would be repeated in court 
the next morning, then Webster unlocked the door and 
they passed out. 

He did make the promised apology in public and be- 
fore the Judges of the vSupreme Court, after which he 
treated Daniel Webster with the greatest respect and 
consideration. 

WEBSTER AND VAN^ BUREN. 

Mr. Webster always treated the bench with that studied 
deference which judges, by virtue of th(.ir position have 
a right to expect from attorneys. ( )n one occasion, when 
he was eneajred in a case in a New York court he was 
preceded by John Van Buren. 

In the course of his speech Van Buren, rather fhppant- 



8o DANIEL WEBSTER. 

ly congratulated the court on "yielding to the popular im- 
pulses of the day," 

Webster began his address by complimenting his op- 
ponent on "the talent and legal knowledge of his ad- 
dress," but went on to speak with strong disapprobation 
of Mr. Van Buren's remark about ''yielding to popular 
impulses." "This," said he,"may be a compliment; but 
it is a compliment, which I would not address to this 
court, nor to any other, for which I entertained feelings 
of respect." 

JUSTICE. 

Webster was fair with his opponents, and accorded 
them their dues in private as well as upon the rostrum. 

"Rusk of Texas," he said "I consider the strongest man 
in the United States on the Democratic side. He is no 
spouter, but he acts, and you can rely on what he says. 

"He will stand without being tied, and you will find 
him where you left him. He has all of Achilles' hatred 
of double dealincr. 



'&• 



"He who can think one thint::, and another telK 
My soul detests liim as the gates of hell." 

"Tt is impossible continued Webster for me to feel the 
least acerbity toward such men as Rusk, Cass, Foote and 
Dickenson. 

We have stood by each other in a time of greatest mo- 
ment to my.self,as well as of danger to the Union of these 
States, shoulder to shoulder, I can never forget or refuse 
to acknowledge their important and vital aid." 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 8i 

STORY OF THE SPANISH CONSUL. 

At the time of the trouble in New Orleans with the 
Spanish consul, Don Calderon de la Barca was the min- 
ister plenipotentiary residing at Washington. 

The controversy had been pretty well settled between 
the two governments by diplomatic notes. Don Calder- 
on, however, seemed to think that he could make him- 
self of considerably more importance by calling on the 
American Secretary of State, and presenting the Spanish 
claim for pecuniary remuneration. In giving his own 
account of the interview, he said: 

"I did call on Mr. Webster. I did make a formal de- 
mand of the United States for pecuniary compensation 
for the losses sustained by the Spanish consul, by the mob. 
I stated my complaint and demand. I did it with pre- 
cision and force. 

"When I got through, what do you think :\Ir.Webster 
said to me? He rose from his chair, he made me one 
bow, and he said, 'Good morning Don Calderon; Good 
morning Don Calderon; Good ^lorning' and I did leave 
the room!'' 

CONQUERED. 

Had Daniel Webster's dinner conversations been 
faithfully reported the world would have been the gain- 
er, but his inimitable manner, his impersonations of the 
characters in his stories can never be reproduced. 

One thing may be said of him, and that is, that for the 
sake of a witticism, or to illustrate any conversational 
topic, he never quoted or made allusion in any way to 



82 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

the Scriptures. Ke never spoke of them except with the 
greatest reverence, nor did he tolerate in others jesting 
reference to them, but legitimate themes of mirth were 
readily illumined by his wit. 

He was ever ready with repartee^ but one day at din- 
ner he was actually talked down and out by a garrulous 
woman. Exposed to the pitiless storm of her ceaseless 
chatter, Webster for a time bore up bravely, then the 
prespiration started from his forehead and the veins be- 
gan to swell, and he was on the point of leaving the ta- 
ble on plea of sudden indisposition, when his ho.stesssaw 
the situation and signaled for the ladies to leave the 
table. 

Mr. Webster then addressed the gentlemen remaining 
as follows: "My countrymen did you ever see such a 
hurricane of a woman?" 

OPINION OF HENRV CL.W. 

Webster's opinion of his great rival is deeply interest- 
ing. He talked freely of him, and admitted that he did 
not like him. They belonged to the same party, and their 
political ideas harmonized, l)ut these were about the only 
matters concerning which they agreed. 

When Clay was nominated for the Presidency against 
Polk in 1844, Mr.Webster at great inconvenience to liiui- 
self went to Pennsylvania, and look the stuniji in his 
behalf. 

A near and dear friend ventured to remark: "I should 
lei Mr. Clay get elected in his own wa\-, if I were you." 

"It is not Mr. Clay," he replied, "it is the cause, the 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 83 

great cause, the success of which I believe to be for the 
interest of the country. Men are nothing, principles are 
everything. Besides, Mr. Clay is fit to be President, he 
is qualified for the station. His principles are such as I 
approve, and his abilit)' nobody can question. There- 
fore I am bound as an honest man to do everything I 
can. And when I say that, I am perfectly well aware 
that, Mr. Clav would not do the same thin": for me." 

RECONCILIATION WITH BENTON. 

A year or two before his death, Webster related to a 
friend the circumstances connected with the e^reat chano-e 
in his relations toward Colonel Benton. The two men 
had indulged in man)- political controversies, and not 
only this, but they were personally antagonistic. It ap- 
pears that for years, wdiile they were members of the 
same body, they had passed in and out at the same door 
without even bowing to each other, and they never had 
any intercourse except such as could not be avoided. 

At the time of the terrible gun explosion on board the 
Princeton during T}-ler's administration, Benton was 
on board. He was standin"- as he said in the verv best 
position to witness the experiment when some one 
touched his arm and led him away to speak to him. Ex- 
Governor Gilmer of Virginia, then Secretary of the Navy, 
took his place greatly to his annoyance. 

Just then the gun w-as fired, the explosion took place, 
and Gilmer was killed as was also Mr. Upshur, the 
Secretary of State, and others. 

Colonel Benton came to Webster and told the stor\-; 



84 DANIKL WEBSTER. 

"It seemed to me," he said, ''as if the touch on my shoul- 
der had been the hand of the Ahnighty drawing me 
away from what otherwise would have been instantane- 
ous death. That one circumstance has changed the 
whole current of my thought and life. I feel that I am 
a different man, and I want in the first place to be at 
peace with all those with wdioni I have been so sharply 
at variance. And so I have come to you. Let us bury 
the hatchet, ]\Ir. Webster." They shook hands and after 
that, their relations were cordial and pleasant. 

A PEACEMAKER. 

After the reconciliation with Benton, Mr. Webster re- 
ceived a call from a broken down politician by the name 
of John Wilson, who had decided to move to California. 
He was old and poor, but thought he might still obtain 
something for his family if he could reach the far west, 
and find friends there. He came to Webster for a letter 
of recommendatiou, knowing that the name of such a 
man would be of value. 

This was in the year of 1847, ju.st after the discover^' 
of gold in the Golden State, and after Colonel Fremont 
has wrested the state from Mexican rule. This was in- 
deed a great achievement, and Colonel Benton had reas- 
on to be proud of his distiuguished son-in-law, even 
though he had incurred his violent rage by eloping witli 
"Jessie.'' 

Fremont's name was in everyone's mouth, and his 
wonderful deeds were the subject of general laudation. 
Everyone going to the Coast was anxious to obtain let- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 85 

ters to tlie gallant young- officer. Webster said to the 
old man that the best recommendation he could get 
would be a letter from Bentoi 

"Is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing?" 
enquired the enraged Wilson. "I would not have a let- 
ter from him. I would not speak to him, I would not 
be beholden to him for a favor — not to save the life of 
every member of my family! Xo, sir! The ver}^ thought 
makes me shudder. I feel indignant at the mention of 
it, I take a letter from Benton! I — ." "Stop, stop," said 
Webster, "I know how you feel." 

And while he continued to rave and protest, Webster 
was writing a letter to Benton which ran about as fol- 
lows: 

"Dear Sir: — I am well aware of the disputes, personal and politi- 
cal, which have taken place between the bearer of this note, Mr. John 
Wilson, and yourself. 

"But the old gentleman is now poor, and is going to California, 
and needs a letter of recommendation. I know no one there to whom 
I could address a letter, but you know many, and a letter from you 
would do him a great deal of good. 

"I have assured Mr. Wilson that it will do you more good to for- 
get what has pi^ssed, and to give him a letter, than it will him to re- 
ceive it. I am going to persuade him to carry you this nole, and 1 
know you will be glad to see him." 

When Wilson got through protesting, Webster read the 
note to him and said. "I want you to carry this to Ben- 
ton." "I won't," he replied. 

Webster coaxed, scolded, reasoned, and brought every 
consideration, to bear — death, eternity, and everything 
else. But it seemed for a time that it would be of no use. 

After a while however, he softened down and the tears 



86 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

flowed, and at last promised, very reluctantly, that he 
would deliver the note at Colonel Benton's door if he 
did no more. He said afterward that it was the bitter- 
est pill he ever swallowed. He delivered the note with 
his own card to the servant at the door, and then hastened 
away to his own lodgings, trembling to think what he had 
done. 

It was hardly an hour before a note came from Benton 
saying he had received the card and the note, and that 
Mrs. Benton and himself would have much pleasure in 
receivinof Mr. Wilson at breakfast at nine o'clock the 
next morninof. Thev wuiiUl wait breakfast for him, and 
no answer was expected. 

"The idea!" he .said to himself, "that I am going to 
breakfast with Tom P>enton! John Wilson! What will 
people say? And what .shall I say? The thing is not to 
be thought of. And >ct T must, T ha\e delivered the 
note, and sent my card. It" [ do not go now, it will be 
rude. It does'nt seem to me as if I could go and sit at 
that table." 

Afterwards he said to Webster, "I lay awatce that night 
thinking of it, and in the morning 1 felt as a man might 
feel who had a sentence of death i)assed upon him, and 
was called by the turnkey to get up for his last breakfast. 

''I rose, however, made my toilet, and after hesitating a 
great deal, went to Benton's house. My hands tremlded 
as I rauir the bell. Instead of a servant, the Colonel, him- 
self came to the door. He took me cordially by both 
hands, and .said, 'Wilson, I am delighted to .see you, this 
is the happiest meeting I lia\e had for twenty years. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 87 

Webster has done the kindest thing he ever did in his 
life.' 

"Leading me directly to the dining room, he presented 
me to ]\Irs. Benton, and then we sat down to breakfast. 

"After inqniring kindly about my family, he said, 'You 
and I, Wilson, have been quarrelling on the stump for 
twenty years. We have been calling each other hard 
names, but really with no want of mutual confidence and 
respect. It has been merely a foolish political fight, and 
let us wipe it out of mind. Every thing that I have said 
about you, I ask your pardon for.' 

"We both cried a little, and T asked his pardon, and 
we were good friends. We talked over old matters, and 
spent the morning until twelve o'clock in pleasant con- 
versation. Nothing was said about the letter until just 
as I was leaving. He then turned to his desk, and said 
'I have prepared some letters for you, to my son-in-law 
and other friends in California,' and he handed me nine 
sheets of foolscap. 

"It was not a letter, but a command to the effect that 
who ever received them must give special attention to the 
wants of his particular friend. Colonel John Wilson. 
Every thing was to give way to that. He put them in 
my hands, and I thanked him and left." 

"Colonel Benton, "says Webster, "afterward came tome, 
and said, 'Webster that was the kindest thing, you ever 
did. God bless you for sending John Wilson to me. That 
is one troublesome thing off my mind. Let us get these 
things off our minds as fast as we can. We have not 
much longer to stay — we have got pretty near the end. 



88 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

Let US go into the presence of our Maker, with as little 
of enmity in our hearts as possible.' " 

And yet after all this, Webster failed to eflect a recon- 
ciliation between Benton and Calhoun. Benton said he 
would do any thing else, he would go down to the jail, 
and beg the pardon of a negro confined there if necessary, 
but he woukrnt be reconciled to Calhoun. 

"I won't, sir — Calhoun is a humbug. I won't have any- 
thino- to do with him. I won' t sir. Mv mind is made up. 
He is a humbug, and I wont do it sir." — From Harvey's 
"Reminiscences/' ■ 

A GREAT man's GREATEST THOUGHT. 

There was a dinner at the Astor House while Daniel 
Webster was Secretary of State under Fillmore, and 
about twenty gentlemen were present. There had been 
jokes, arguments, and much conversation concerning the 
political questions of the day, but a silence at last fell 
upon the company, and then one of the guests said: 

":\Ir. Webster, will you tell us what was the most im- 
portant thought that ever occupied your mind?" 

Webster slowly passed his hand over his forehead, and 
after a moment he answered:"The most important tlu)ught 
that ever occupied my mind was that of my individual 
responsibility to God." And after speaking on this sub- 
ject in the most solemn strain for about twenty minutes, 
he silently arose from the table and retired to his room. 

FAVORITI-: POEM.S. 

Webster was very fond of Scott's "Lady of the Lake." 
He especially enjoyed the beginning of the fust Canto, 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



89 



I 



saying that it brought the scene vividly before his mind. 

He loved to repeat it to his friends, and pausing, to im- 

press upon their 

minds, the beautiful 

word pictures of the 

poet. 

"The stag at eve had 

drunk his fill, 
Where danced the moon 

on Monon's rill, 
And deep his midnight 

lair had, made 
In lone Glenartney's 

hazel-shade. 
And when the sun, his 

beacon red 
Had kindled on Benvoir- 

lich's head. 
The deep mouthed blood- 
hound's heavy bay 
Resounded up the rocky 

way, 
And faint from farther 
distance borne. 

Were heard the clang of hoof and horn. 
As chief who hears his warder call 
'To arms! the foemen storm the wall! ' 
The antlered monarch of the waste 
Sprung from his heathery couch in haste. 
But, ere his fleet career he took, 
The dew drops from his flank he shook; 
Like crested leader, proud and high. 
Tossed his beamed frontlet to the sky; 
A moment ga/.ed adown the dale — 
A moment snuffed the tainted gale— 
A moment listened to the cry, 




Sir Walter Scott, Webster's Favorite Author. 



go ■ DANIEL WEBSTER. 

That thickened as the chase drew nigh; 
Then, as the headmost foes appeared, 
With one brave bound, the copse he cleared, 

And stretching forward, free and far 
Sought tlie wild heaths of Uam-var." 

Mr. Webster had also a high appreciation of the sub- 
limity of Bibical poetry. "The Hebrew poets," said he, 
"borrowed a great deal of their imagery from conmuni 
life, and to have invested familiar subjects with the great- 
est dignity is a commendation, I should say, peculiar to 
them. 

"Homer who has attempted the same, and not without 
success, still falls far below the sacred writers in boldness 
and sublimity. What other writer, indeed, in ancient 
or modern times would have dared, or daring cotild have 
succeeded, in conveying a shadow or outline of this glor- 
ious delineation of imagery taken from the wine press?" 

"Who is this ttiat cometh from Edom? 
"With garments deeply dyed from Rozrah? 
This, tliat is magnificent in his apparel; 
Marching on in the greatness of his strength?" 

"I,the announcer of righteousness, mighty to save." 

"\\ luii'fore is thine appan.1 red? 

"And tliv garments, as one that tre idelli tlu- winr vat? 

"1 have irodilen the wine press alone; 

And of the people, there was none to helj) me." 

No one who ever heard Daniel Webster repeat, w ith 
his deep and sympathetic intonation, tliis announcement 
from Isaiah, in relation to the coming of the Messiah, 
will ever forget his rendering of the sublime passage. 

"I have met with men in niv time," he said, "who 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 91 

were accounted scholars — who knew Homer by heart, 
recited Pindar, were at home with ^-Eschykis, and petted 
Horace — who could not understand Isaiah, Moses or the 
Royal Poet. Why is this? Why, in cultivating profane 
poetry should they neglect sacred — so far superior in 
original force, sublimity, and truth to nature? 
, "The Book of Job is a complete epic, only instead of 
wars and combatants, we have arguments and orators. 
Its action is entire and complete, as the unity of the work 
demands; or as Aristotle expresses it, it has a beginning, 
middle, and end. 

"The middle of this epic, corresponding with that por- 
tion of the Iliad which describes the various contests be- 
tween the Greeks and Trojans, is the sustained, and at 
times irate controversy between Job and his friends — 
perhaps the greatest visitation of Providence upon him. 

"Isaiah may be occasionally more sublime, and David 
superior in tenderness and variety of style; but the author 
of Job in force, and fidelity of description is unrivaled. 
The dignity of his imagery, and his elevated diction are 
worthy of his theme." 

"I read often, and always with increased pleasure," 
said Mr. Websterj'the prayer of Habakkuk as it is called; 
It ma\- properly be denominated an ode, and has been 
accounted one of the best specimens of its class." 

"God came from Tcman 

The Holy One from Mount Paran. 

His glory covered the heavens, 

The earth was full of his praise. 

Before him rushed the pestilence 

And burning coals went forth at his feet. 



92 DANIJIL W.KBSTER. 

"He stood and measured the earth; 

He beheld, and drove asunder the nations. 

The everlasting mountains are scattered. 

The perpetual hills did bow their heads. 

I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; 

The curtains of the land of Midian trembled. 

The mountains saw thee and trembled; 

The overflowing of the water passed by. 

The deep uttered his voice. 

And lifted up his hands on high. 

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation 

At the light of thine arrows they went, 

At the shining of thy glittering spear." 

"The Hebrew poets have this advantage, that in the 
awful dignity of their subject, they not only imnieasure- 
ably surpass all other authors, but go beyond the confines 
of human genius. They celebrate the praises and the 
power of the Holy One, under the influence of direct in- 
spiration, and thus become the organs through which 
His greatness, and justice, and immensity, rcacli our ap- 
prehension." 

"And what," continued Mr. Webster, "can be more 
beautiful, more expressive than the closing lines of this 
ode? 

"Although the fig tree shall* not blossom, 

Neither shall fruit be in the vines; 

The labor of the olive shall fail, 

And the fields shall yield no meat; 

The tlock shall be cut off from the fold. 

And there shall be no lurd in tiie stalls; 

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, 

I will joy in the Cotl of my salvation." 

"The cadence of the sentiment and the arrangement 
of the words are wholly poetical. Without doubt, they 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 93 

were composed originally in verse, or measured num- 
bers; but having lost the ancient pronunciation of the 
Hebrew language, we caniot ascertain satisfactorily the 
nature of Hebrew verse. 

'The labor of the olive' — what an energetic simile ! 
x\s if the olive, of its own accord supplied or withheld 
its fruit; as if it had volition and powers inherent in 
itself. 'The fields shall yield no meat.' 

''How much more forcible and poetic than if he had 
said 'The fields shall yield no produce, no crop, or return.' 

"The whole ode or 'prayer' indeed is full of vivid im- 
ages, embellishing and strengthening the earnest ideas 
they illustrate." — From ^'Social Hours of Daniel Web- 
ster'' in Harper's Monthly. 

EXTRACTS FROM SPEECHES BY DANIEL WEBSTER. 

THE PLYMOUTH ORATION. 

From the address delivered on the 22nd of December, 1820,011 
the anniversary of the Landing of the Pilgrims two hundred years 
before: 

"Finally, let us not forget the reHgious character of our origin. 
Our fathers were brought here by their high veneration for the Chris- 
tian religion. They journeyed by its light and labored by its hope. 
They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their 
society, and to diffuse its influence through all theirinstitutions, civil, 
political or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this 
influence still more widely, in the full conviction that the happiest so- 
ciety is that which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and 
peaceful spirit of Christianity We should leave for the con- 
sideration of those who shall hereafter occupy our places, some proof 
that we hold the blessings transmitted from our fathers in just estima- 
tion. Some proof of our attachment to the cause of good government, 
and of civil and religious liberty. Some proof of a sincere and ardent 



94 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

desire to promote everything which may enlarge the understandings 
and improve the hearts of men. And when from the longdistance of 
a hundred years, they shall look back upon us, they shall know at 
least that we possessed affections, which running backward and 
-warming with gratitude for wliat our ancestors have done for ourhap- 
piness, run forward also to our posterity, and meet them with cordial 
salutation, ere yet they have arrived upon the shore of being. 

"Advance, then, ye future generations: We would hail you, as you 
rise in your long succession, to fill the places which we now fill, and to 
taste the pleasures of existence which we are now passing and soon 
shall have passed, our own human duration. We bid you welcome to 
this pleasant land of the fathers. We bid you welcome to the health- 
ful skies and verdant plains of New England. We greet your acces- 
sion to the great inheritance which we have enjoyed. We welcome 
you to the blessings of good government, and religious liberty. We 
welcome you to the treasures of science, and the delights of learning. 
We welcome you to the transcendant sweets of domestic life — to the 
happiness of kindred and parents and children. We welcome you to 
the immeasurable blessings of rational existence, the immortal hope 
of Christianity, and the light of everlasting truth!" 

THE GREEK REVOLUTION. 

From the speech delivered when Mr. Webster was forty-two 
years of age: 

"I am not of those who would, in the hour of the utmost peril, 
withold such encouragement as might be iirojierly and lawfully given, 
and when the crisis should be past, overwhelm the rescued sufferer 
with kindness and caresses. 

"The Greeks address the civilized world with a pathos not easy to 
be resisted. They invoke our favor by mure moving considerations 
than can well belong to the condition of any other peojiie. They 
stretch out their arms to the Christian comnumities of the earth, be- 
seeching them, by a generous recollection of their ancestors, — by the 
consideration of their own desolated cities and villages, by their 
wives and children sold into accursed slavery,— by their own lilood, 
which they seem willing to pour out like water -by the common faith, 
and in the Name which unites all Christians, that they would extend 
to them, at least, some token of compassionate regard." 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



95 



BUNKER HILL MONUMENT. 
Delivered at the laying of the corner stone of the monument at 
Charlestovvn, Mass., June 17, 1825. 




In addressing the few 
great struggle Mr. Web- 

"V'enerable men: you 
from a former generation, 
lengthened out your lives, 
this joyous day. You are 
ty years ago this very 
and your neighbors.shoul- 
strife of your country. 
same heavens are indeed 
same ocean rolls at your 
changed. 

roll of hostile cannon- 
smoke and flame rising 
town. The ground strewn 
steady and successful re- 



surviving veterans of the 
stcr said: 

have come down to us 
Heaven has bounteously 
that you might behold 
now where you stood, hf- 
hour, with your brothers 
der to shoulder, in the 
Behold how altered! The 
over your head. The 
feet, but all else is 
"You hear now, no 
you see no volumes of 
from burning Charles- 
withdead and dying the 
pulse--the loud call to 



Bunker Hill Monument, Charlestown, Muss, 
repeated assault-the summoning of all that is manly to repeated 
resistance-a thousand bosoms freely and fearlessly bared in an in- 



96 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

stant to whatever of terror there may be in war and death— all these 
you have witnessed, but you witness them no more. 

"All is peace. The heights of yonder metropolis — its towers and 
roofs, which you then saw filled with wives and children, in distress 
and terror, and looking with unutterable emotions for the issue of the 
combat, have presented you to-day with the sight of its whole happy 
population, coming out to welcome and to greet you with a universal 
jubilee 

"But alas! you are nut all here! Time and the sword have thinned 
your ranks. Prescott ,Putnam, Stark, Brooks, Reed, Pomeroy, Bridge! 
Our eyes seek in vain for you amid this broken band. You are gath- 
ered to your fathers, and live only to your country in her grateful re- 
membrance, and vour own bright example. But let us not grieve too 
mu( h tliat you have nut the common fate of men. You lived at least, 
long enough to know that your work had been nobly and successfully 
accomplished. You lived to see your country's independence estab- 
lished and to sheathe your swords from war. On the light of liberty, 

you saw arise the light of peace, like 

'another morn, 

Risen on mid-noon, 

and the sky on which you closed your eyes, was cloudless.' 

"Let the sacred obligations which have devolved upon this gen- 
eration sink deep into our licarts. Those are daily dropping from 
among us wlio estal)lishcd our liberty and our government. 

"The great trust now descends to new hands. Wo can win no 
laurels in a war for independence. Pearlier and worthier hands have 
gathered them all. Nor are there places for us liy the side of Solon 
and .Alfred and other founders of states. Our fathers have filled 
thtin. 

"But there remains to us a great duty of defense and preservation. 
Let us develope the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build 
up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we 
also, in our day and generation may not perform something worthy to 
be remembered. Let us cultivate the true spirit of union and har- 
mony. Let our conceptions be enlarged to the circle of our duties. 

"Let us extend our ideas over the whole of the vast field in which 
we are called to act. Let our object he our country, our whole coun- 
try, and nothing l)ut our country. And by the blessing Cod, may that 
country itself, become a vast and splendid monument, not of oppres- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 97 

sion and terror, but of wisdom, of peace, and of liberty, upon which 
the world may gaze with admiration forever." 

THE TARIFF OF 1828. 

From Webster's Defense of New England in Relation to Protection. 

"New England, sir, has not been a leader in this policy. On the 
contrary she held herself back from it, from the adoption of the Con- 
stitution to 1824. Up to 1824 she was accused of sinister and selfish 
designs, because she discountenanced the progress of this policy. . . . 
Under this angry denunciation against her, the act of 1824 was passed. 
Now the imputation is of a precisely opposite character. . . Both 
charges, sir, are ecjually without the slightest foundation. The opin- 
ion of New England that up to 1824 was founded in the conviction 
that, on the whole, it was wisest and best, both for herself and others, 

that manufactures should make haste slowly At the 

commencement of the late war, wc were told that we should find a 
mitigation of the weight of taxation in the new aid and succor which 
would be thus afforded to our own manufacturing labor. 

"Like arguments were urged and prevailed, but not by the aid of 
New England votes, when the tariff was afterwards arranged at the 
close of the war in 1816. What then was New England to do? . . . 
Was she to hold forever against the course' of the government and 
see herself losing on one side, and yet make no effort to sustain herself 
on the other? No sir. Nothing was left to New Englaml, but to con- 
form herself to the will of the others." 

FRO.M WEBSTER'S REPLY TO HAYNE. 

A Speech delivered in the Senate of theUnited States on Foote's Reso- 

lutidu, January 26, 1830. 

In relation to slavery Mr. Webster said: "There is not, and never 
has been, a disposition in the north to interfere with the interests of the 
south. Such interference has never been supposed to be within the 
power of the government, nor has it been in any w.,y attempted. The 
slavery of the south has always been regarded as a matter of domestic 
policy, left with the states themselves, and with which the federal gov- 
ernment had nothing to do. Certainly, sir, I am and ever have been, 
of that opinion. 

"The gentleman, indeed argues that slavery in the abstract, is no 



98 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

evil. Most assuredly I need not say I differ from him, altogether and 
most widely on that point. I regard domestic slavery as one of the 
greatest evils, both moral and political. But thoutdi it l;e a malady, 
and whether it be curable, and if so by what means. . . 1 leave it to 
thLUi whose right and tluty it is, to enquire and to decide." 

He then recounted the whole history of the struggle pertaining to 
the extension of slaverv, in conncrtion with an able discussion of con- 
stitutional law. 

THE CONSTITITION AND THE I'NION. 

After n plving t.i ll.iyne's attacks upon New England in relation 
to the tariff and otlur 111. liters, he passed to the discussion of the Union 
by replying to Hayne's objections to pul)lic improvements being made 
in the western states. The southern gentleman had enquired; "What 
interest has South Carolina in a canal in Ohio?" 

"On his system, it is true, she has no interest. On that system 
Ohio and Carolina are diffirL-nt governments, connected here, it is 
true, by some slight and illdelined bond of union, but in all main re- 
spects, separate and diverse. On that system, Carolina has no more 
interest in a canal in Ohio tlian. in Mexico 

"Sir. we, narrow minded people of New England do not reason 
thus. We look upon the states, not as separated but united. We love 
to dwell on the union, and the mutual happiness, whit li it has so nmch 
promoted, and the common renoun to which it has so greatly contrib- 
uted. In our contemplation, Carolina and Ohio are parts of 
the same country states, uniteil under the same general govern- 
ment, having interests, common, associated, intermingled. In what- 
ever is within tlie proper sphere of the constitutional power of this 
government, we look upon the states as one. We do not impose ge- 
ographical limits to our patriotic feeling or regard- we do not follow 
rivers and mountains, and lines of iatituile.to linil boundaries, beyond 
wliii ti imlilie improvements do not benefit us. 

"\\i-,u ho come here as agents and representatives of these narrow 
mindetl and seltish men of New England, consider ourselves as bound 
to regard with an ei|ual t ye, the good of the whole, in whatever is 
within our jiower of legislation. 

"Sir, if a railroad »>r a canal beginning in South Carolina, and end- 
ing in South Carolina, appeared tii me to be of national importance. . . . 
If 1 were to stand up here and ask, what interest has Massachusetts 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 99 

in a railroad in South Carolina? I should not be willing to face my 
constituents. These same narrow minded men would tell me that 
they had sent me to act for the whole country, and that one who pos- 
sessed too little comprehension, either of intellect or feeling — one 
who was not large enough, lioth in mind and heart, to embl-ace the 
whole, was not lit to l)e intrusted with the interests of any part." 

STATE RIGHTS. 

After discussing at great length the ugent necessity of public im- 
provements, he struck the doctrine of "state's rights" with vigorous 
and well directed blows. 

"I understand the honorable gentleman from South Carolina to 
maintain that it is the right of state legislatures to interfere, whenever, 
in tluir judgment, this government transcends its constitutional limits, 
and to arrest the operation of its laws." 

S()\ki:i<;mty of thf. constitution. 

Then followed a long argument on the sovereignty of the Con- 
stitution and the necessary loyalty to be given it from the various 
states. 

He argued that the government itself was a popular one erected 
by the people that those who administered its affairs were responsi- 
ble to the people alone, that the state governments also emanated from 
the people, but the general government was created for one purpose 
and the state governments for another. "We are here to administer 
a Constitution emanating immediately from the people, and trusted by 
them to our administration. It is not a creature of state governments. 
But sir, the people have wisely provided in the Constitu- 
tion itself, a proper mode and tribunal for settling questions of con- 
stitutional law. . . Tlie Constitution itself, has pointed out, ordained 
and established that authority. How has it accomplished this great 
and successful end? By declaring, sir, that the Constitution and the 
laws of the United States made in pursuance thereof, shall be the su- 
preme law of the land, anything in the Constitution, or laws of any 
state, to the contrary, notwithstanding." 

He then made a long and forcible argument on the subject of con- 
stitutional law, closing with an eloquent and prophetic picture of the 
state of affairs which would obtain, if the doctrines of nullification 
were cpnsfstently carried out. 



100 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

NULLIFICATION. 

"I have not allowed myself, sii, to look beyond the Union to see 
what might lie hidden in the dark recesses behind. . . God grant 
that in my day at least that curtain may not rise! God grant that on 
my vision never may be opened what lies beyond! 

"When my eyes shall be turned to behold for the last time the 
sun in heaven, may I not see liim shining on the broken and dishon- 
ored fragments of a once glorious Union; on states dissevered, dis- 
cordant, beligerent; on a land rent with civil feuds, or drenched, it 
may be with fraternal blood! Let their last feeble, and lingering 
glance, rather behold the gorgeous ensign of the republic, now known 
and honored throughout the earth, still, full liigh advanced, its arms 
and trophies streaming in their original lustre, not a stripe erased or 
polluted, not a single star obscured. . . but everywhere, spread all over 
it in characters of living light, l^lazing on all its ample folds, as they 
float over the sea, and over the land, and in every wind under the 
whole heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every true American 
heart— Libertv and Union, now and forever one, and inseparable." 

KEPLY TO CALHOfX. 

Speech in the Senate of the United States, on the i6th day of Febru- 
ary 1833. 

After giving a forcible resume of the previous positions of South 
Carolina in relation to the tariff, he said: 

"1 hold South Carolina to her anciint, her cool, her uninfluenced, 
her deliberate opinions. I hold her to her own admissions, nay, to her 
own claims and pretensions, in 17S1) in ihv I'irst Congress, and to her 
acknowledgements and avowed sentiments through a long series of 
succeeding years. I hold her to the principles on which she led con- 
gress to a( t in 1S16, or if she has changed her own opinions, I claim 
some respect for those who still retain the same views. 

"I say she is precluded from asserting ih.it doctrines whii !i she 
herself has so long and so ably sustained, are plain, palpable and dan- 
gerous violations of the Constitution. 

"Mr.President.if the friends of nullification should be able to pro- 
pagate their opinions, and give tliem jjractical effect, they would in 
my judgment, prove themselves the most skillful architects of ruin. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. loi 

the most effectual extinguishers of high raised expectation, the great- 
est blasters of human hopes, which any age has produced. 

"They wouUl stand up to the proclaim,. in tones that would pierce 
the ears of half the human race, that the last great experiment in 
human government had failed. They would send forth sounds, at the 
hearing of which, "the di\ine right of kings," would feel even in its 
grave, a returning sensation of vitality and resuscitation. 

"Millions of eyes,of those who now feed tlieir inherent love of lib- 
erty on the success of the American example, would turn away from 
beholding our dismemberment and find no place on earth wherein to 
rest their gratified sight. Amidst the incantations and orgies of nul- 
lification, secession, disunion and revolution, would be celebrated the 
funeral rites of constitutional and republican liberty. 

"Rut sir, if the government do its duty, if it act with firmness and 
with moderation, these opinions cannot prevail. Be assured, that 
among the political sentiments of this peopU- the love of union is still 
uppermost. 

"They will stand fast by the Constitulion.and by those who defend 
it, 1 rely on no temporary expedients on no political combination; 
but 1 rely on the true .\nierican feeling— the genuine patriotism of the 
people, and the imperative decision of the public voice. 

"With my whole heart,! pray for the continuance of the domestic 
peace and cpiiet of the country, I desire most ardently, the restoration 
of affection and harmony to all its parts, I desire that every citizen of 
the whole country may look to this gt)vernment, with no other senti- 
ments but those of grateful respect and attachment. Disorder and 
confusion, indeed may arise— scenes of commotion and contest are 
threatened, and perhaps may come. 

"But I cannot yield.eveii to kind feelings, the cause of the Consti- 
tution, the true glory of the country, and the great trust which we hold 
in our hands, for succeeding ages. H the Constitution cannot be 
maintained without meeting these scenes of commotion, they must 

come. 

"We cannot, we must not, we dare not, omit to do that, which in 

our judgment, the safety of the Union requires. 

"Not regardless of consequences, we must yet meet consequences; 

seeing the hazards which surround the discharge of public duty, it 

must yet be discharged. 

"For mvself, sir, I shun no responsibility justly devolving on me, 



102 DANIKL WKBSTER. 

here or elsewhere, in attempting to maintain the cause — I am tied to 
it by indissoluble bonds of affection and duty, and I shall cheerfully 
partake of its fortunes and its fate. 1 am ready to perform my own 
appropriate part, whenever and wherever the occasion may call me, 
and to take my chance among those upon whom the blows may fall 
first, and fall thickest. 

"1 sliali exert every faculty I possess, in aiding to prevent the Con- 
stitution from being nullified, destroyed or impaired; aiid even if I 
should see it fall, I will still, with a voice, feeble, perhaps, but earnest, 
as ever issued from human lips, call on the people to come to its 
rescue." 

FROM THE COMPROMISES OF THE CONSTITLTION. 
Delivered in the Senate of tlie United States. 

Having been again returned to the Senate, his last great speech 
before that august body was delivered on the 7th of March, 1850, only 
two years before the death of the great orator. 

Various schenus were- under discussion concerning the extension 
of slavery in the territories, and newly admitted states, and as usual in 
those days, the threat of secession was heard from too many of the 
southern senators. Some of them advocated the idea that secession 
might be peaceably accompiislu'd, .nul in relation to that subject, we 
find the following paragraph in this celebrated address: 

"Peaceable secession! peaceable secession! The ciincurnui agree- 
ment of all the members of this great republic to separate! 

"A voluntary separation, with alimony on the one side and on the 
other. Why, wliat would be the result? Where is the line to be 
drawn? What states are to secede? What is to remain .American? 
What am 1 to be? .An .American no longer? Where is the l1ag i>f the 
re|)ublic to remain? Where is the eagle still to tower? or is he to 
cower, and sink, and fall to the ground? 

"Why, sir, our ancestors our fathers and our gr.Mulfatlurs, those 
of them that are yet living among us with prolonged lives would re- 
buke and reproacli us. And ourchildren aiul our grandchildren would 
cry t>ut, '.Shame upon usi' if we of this geiuratioii should ilishonor 
these ensigns of the power of the government, an»l the harmony of the 
Union, which is every day felt among us with so liiuch power and 
gratitude. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 103 

"What is to become of the army? What is to become of the navy? 
What is to become of the public lands? How is each of the thirty 
states to defend itself? I know, although the idea has not been stated 
(listiiu'lly, tliere is to be a soutluTn confederacy. 1 do not mean when I 
allude to this statement, that any one seriously contemplates such a 
state of things. I do not mean to say that it is true, but I have heard 
it suggested elsewhere that this idea has originated in a design to sep- 
arate. I am sorry, sir, that it has ever been thought of, talked of, or 
dreamed of, in the wildest tligiils of human imagination." 



THE STORY OF DANIEL WEBSTER. 

FOR A SCHOOL OR CLUB PROGRAMME. 

Each numbered paragraph is to be given to a pupil or 
member to read, or to recite, in a clear, distinct tone. 

If the school or club is small, each person may take 
three or four paragraphs, but should not be required to 
recite them in succession. 

1. Daniel Webster was born on the 18th day of January, 
1782, of pioneer parents. His father was an of^cer in the war of the 
Revolution. 

2. Although delicate in childhood, he appears to have inherited 
from his grandmother and his father, a tine physique, with a large 
brain anil rugged features, also good literary tastes, and an aptitude 
for mental ac([uisition. 

3. His first lessons were given by mother and sisters, but his tirst 
contact with the world came at Exeter Academy, where he keenly 
felt the ridicule which was freely bestowed upon his rustic dress and 
ways. 

4. He entered Dartmouth College in August of 1797. Here he 
tirst successfuUv cultivated the gift of speech, and three years later 
he was invited to deliver the Fourth of July oration at Hanover. 

5. Even his earliest speeches were characterized by patriotism, 
fidelity to the Constitution being a favorite theme. 

6. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1801, with some smat- 
tering of the law, but with a much greater familiarity with English 
literature. 

7. He gave up his law studies and taught school, in order to be 



104 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

enabled to contribute to the support of his elder brother who was 
then in College. 

8. When his father died in 1806, Daniel assumed his financial ob- 
ligations, waited until his brother was admitted to the bar, then went 
to Portsmouth, where he made his liome. 

Q. In 180Q Mr. Webster was married to Miss Grace Fletcher, the 
daugliter of the minister at Salisbury. With her he lived happily un- 
til her death, nearly twenty years later. 

10. In 1813 he took his seat as a member of the Thirteenth Con- 
gress. He was now about thirty years of age. 

11. His best service during his first term was his successful 
opposition to a National Bank having a large paper currency, which 
was not redeemable in either gold or silver coin. 

12. Mr. Webster was re-elected to the Fourteenth Congress- 
where the currency fight was renewed. Mr. Webster and his friends- 
however, succeeded in eliminating the most injurious features of the 
bill before it was finally passed. 

13. About 1 8 16 he was admitted to the practice of law before the 
Supreme Court of the United States. 

14. In 18 1 7 he removed his family to Boston where he made his 
home formally years. It was in this year also, that he lost his beauti- 
ful little daughter (irace, who died in her father's arms. 

15. Ini8i8, on the tenth day of March he made his memorable 
argument in liehalf of Dartmouth College before the Supreme Court 
of the Inited States. This victory was more far-reaching than any 
other which, up to that time, had been won before the Federal Courts. 

16. In 1820 he delivered his celebrated oration at Plymouth on 
the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, just two hundred years 
after the date of that event. 

17. In 1823 he again took his seat in Congress, this time as a 
representative of the people of Boston. 

18. In 1824 he delivered his groat speech on "The Greek Revo- 
lution," protesting against the vmspeakabie barbarity of the Turks, 
and claiming that the struggling Greeks were entitled to the active 
symi>athy of the whole civiHzed world. 

IQ. In 1825, before he was forty-three years of age, he delivered 
his celebrated adiiress on " Ihe Laying of the Corner Stone of the 
Bunker Hill Monument." 

20. In 1826 he was chosen Senator, and this year was also signal- 
ized by his eulogy upon Adams and Jefferson. 

21. In 1828, in Januarv of this year, he lost his beloved wife, and 
with her loss came a terrible l)reak in his life, for she had been com- 
rade and Iriend. as well as a devoted wife. This year, also, he deliv- 
ereil an able scientific lecture at the opening of the course at the Me- 
chanics Institution in Boston. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 105 

22. In 182Q he lost his faithful brother Ezekiel, who died from 
heart failure while making an eloquent j^lea in court. 

23. In 1829, also, he was married to Miss Leroy of New York, 
who survived him. 

24. In 1830 he made his celebrated "Reply to Mayne," an effort 
which has probably never been surpassed in debate upon the floor of 
the Senate. He was now about forty-eight years of age. 

25. In 1831 people began to talk of him as a very prob?_ble can- 
didate for the Presidency, but he was defeated for the nominaiion in 
consequence of his opposition to \'an Buren as Minister to England. 

26. In November of the year 1831, South Carolina passed her cel- 
ebrated ordinance nullifying the laws of the United States, concerning 
the collection of the revenue. John C. Calhoun had resigned the \ice 
Presidency, accepted the Senatorship, and went to the capital as the 
champion of secession. 

27. Webster immediately allied himself to the Administration 
as the champion of the Constitution and the law. 

28. In 1832 Webster delivered his "Eulogy upon Washington," 
in honor of the' centennial birthday of our first President, at a public 

. dinner in the city of Washington. 

29., In 1833 he advocated with all the eloquence and logic at his 
command the famous "Force Bill," empowering the President of the 
United States to use all the military force of the government, if neces- 
sary, for the enforcement of the laws. 

30. Although Webster had proved a veritable tower of strength 
to the administration during the conflict with the incipient rebellion, 
still he had a j)rolonged struggle with President Jackson in the fall of 
1833, on the question of finance. 

31. He was always in favor of a paper currency which was re- 
deemable in cither gold or silver coin, and during the heated contro- 
versv on this subject in 1833, he delivered sixty-four addresses upon 
the question, finally winning his point against the administration. 

32. In 1833, also, he delivered his famous "Reply to Calhoun," in 
the Senate of the United States, in connection with the bill "further to 
provide for the collection of duties upon imports." Here, again, his 
sturdy blows upon the doctrine of nullification fell thick and fast. 

33. In this year, also, Henry Clay presented the bill for a com- 
promise, which \\'ebster fought with all the energy of his being. 

34. In 1837 he delivered one of his best speeches in New York 
City, giving voice to his political positions upon important public 
questions. Here, as elsewhere, he was dignitied and courteous to his 
opponents, carrving the whole audience with him. He was now forty- 
five years of age. The unity of the Great Republic was again the 
theme of his eloquent eulogy. 

35. In 1839 Mr. Webster went to England with his family for a 



io6 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

long needed rest, and was everywhere received with appropriate hon- 
ors as one of the foremost citizens of a great nation. 

36. Upon his return to his native heath in the winter of the same 
year, he found General Harrison the nominee of his party for the 
Presidency, and he threw himself into the campaign with all the en- 
thusiasm of his nature. 

37. 1840. During this summer he made campaign speeches for 
Harrison in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and \'irginia. 
Seventy or more public addresses were made during this campaign, 
mostly upon the various ])hases of the currency (pRstion. 

38. 1841. On the election of Harrison he was invited to accept 
the portfolio of State, and he accepted the position, taking his place 
in the cabinet, in March of this year. 

3Q. President Harrison dying after only one month of official 
life, and it being the first time a President had died in ofilice, it de- 
volved upon vSecretary Webster to arrange and establish the necessa- 
ry forms to be complied with, and the honors to he paid upon such 
occasions. 

40. When Harrison was succeeded by Tyler, Secretary Webster 
was earnestly requested to retain the portfolio of State, and (inally de- 
cide il to do so. 

41. In 1842 Lord Ashhurttin, as the especial envoy of Great Brit- 
ain, arrived in Washington tci confer with our government respecting 
the dit+icult tpiestion of the northwestern boundary line and other 
matters which were producing much international irritation. 

42. After much delav, and the careful manipulation of several 
delicate (piestions, .Mr. Webster, with his assistant counsel, succeeded 
in arranging with the British envoy the ".\shburton Treaty," which 
settled some grievous questions at a time when war seemed almost 
unavoidable. 

43. .Mthough his personal relations with President Tyler were 
cordial, there were some political complications which led to his res 
ignation, and he retired to his beautiful country home at Marshfield, 
where he passed a little time in retirement. 

44. W hen Henry Clay was nominated for the Presidency in 1844, 
he gave him cordial supjjort, and took the stump in his behalf, al- 
though cordially disliking the man ])ersonally, and feeling sure, as he 
said, that "Clay would not doit for me." 

45. He was op|)osed to the conduct of the Mexican war, but dur- 
ing tliese campaigns he lost his beloveil. son iLiiw.inl, who died in 
Mexico as the Major of a regiment of Massachusetts volunteers. 

46. The bodv of the young officer was lirought to Boston on the 
vcrv <lay that his beloved sisttr was consigned to the tomb. 

47. A few (lavs later a firvent religious service was held over the 
body of Edward Webster, and tlu-n military honors were accorded to 
him as he was laid away in the tomb. 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 107 

48. Mr. Webster planted two weeping elms on his lawn at 
Marshfield as a memorial of his son and daus^^hter, and made arrange- 
ments for the resting place for himself and his family. 

49. In 1845 he was chosen Senator from Massachusetts, and as 
soon as he could rally a little after his terrible loss, he hurried away 
to bury his aching heart in the rush of public duty. 

50. General Taylor became the nominee of the Whig party for 
the Presidency, when by all the laws of political justice the nomina- 
tion should have gone to Webster. 

51. Webster was opposed to the placing of military men in the 
Chair of the Chief Executive, because military efficiency is not a 
qualification for wise statesmanship, but at last he decided" to vote for 
Taylor and advise his friends to do so. 

52. When President Tavlor suddenly died, the portfolio of State 
was again offered to Webster, who accepted it, taking his place in 
Fillmore's cabinet in July of 1850. 

53. His administration of the department was again satisfactory 
although there was no such important international negotiations as 
the Ashburton Treaty. 

54. He was thrown from his carriage while driving inMarshfield 
and was severely injured, after which he was never again in health. 

55. He spent much of his time at Marshfield, and would have re- 
signed his position, but retained it at the esjjecial rccpiest of the Pres- 
ident, and indeed he succeeded in transacting the business of his de- 
partment until a few months before his death. 

56. On the evening of October 3, 1852, he went to his rest, lying 
down upon his armor in lirm reliance upon the Christian hope. 

57. The gates of his spacious lawn were tlirown open, and about 
ten thousand people came to attend the simple funeral services, which 
were in accordance with his own expressed wish. 

58. One of the grandest lives among our .American statesmen 
passed into history, and his words will ever live as an eloquent vindi- 
cation of the Constitution and the Laws. 



PPOCRAMME FOR A DANIEL WEBSTER EVENING. 

1. Music — "Star Spangled Banner.'* 

2. Recitation Extract from Webster's s]icech entitled, "The 
Constitution not a Compact." 

3. Essay — Webster's Services as Secretary of State. 

4. Instrumental Music- Patriotic Air. 

5. Recitation — Extract from Webster's Reply to Hayne. 

6. Anecdotes of Webster, as niany taking part as possible. 

7. Vocal Music AH join in singing ".Vmerica." 



io8 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW. 

JV/iat can you sav of the ^rand-parents of Daniel U'ebster? Des- 
cribe his father? What of the viilitary career of Ebenezer Webster? 
When and where was Daniel born? What can you say of his child 
life? Give a brief summary of his educational ad-'antaffes? When 
and where was his first public address delivered? When was he 
graduated from Dartmouth? What was his first work afterwards? 
Describe his personal appearance. When did his father die? When 
and whom did Daniel \ I 'cbster tnarry ? 1 1 'hen was he first elected to 
Con stress? What was the most important service 7uhich he rendered 
to the country durint; the Thirteenth Congress? What can you say of 
the Fourteenth Congress ? 1 1 'hat can you say of his management of the 
Dartmouth College case? Which is considered the f nest of his anni- 
versary speeches ? 

II 'hat can you say of his speech on the Great Revolution? What 
of the address on the Laying of the Corner Stone of the Bunker Hill 
Monument? Mention the principal master-pieces among his addresses. 
What can you say of his first day in the Senate after the death of his 
wife? Recapitulate briefly his conflict with the nulliflers of South 
Carolina. 

. What can you say of his reply to Hayne? When was his name 
first mentioned in connection with the Presidency? II 'ho 7L'as his suc- 
cessful rival for the nomination at this time? What can you say of 
the Force Bill? What relation did Webster sustain to Jackson's ad- 
ministration during the days of the threatened rebellion? What was 
his relation to it oil the question of finance? What can you say of his 
speech entitled, "The Constitution not a Compact?" 

What was the result of the excitement on the subject of nullifica- 
tion? II hat can you say of Webster s struggle with Jackson on the 
question of finance? When did he go to England? Il'hat was the 
condition of American politics when he returned ? What can you say 
of his work during the /farrison campaign ? What was the result? 
When was he re-eUcted to the Senate for the six year term ? When 
did he become the Secretary of State? Give a brief synopsis of his 
most 7>aluable ser7>ice in this department? What can you say of his 
letter to Lord Ashburton on the sul'Ject of impressment ? 

L^escribe briefly Webj:ter s home at Marshfield? What can yott 
sav of his life there? II hen was he again called to a position in the 
C abinet ? Il'hat were his relations with President Tyler? How was 
his work in the cabinet considced? When was Itenry Clay nomina- 
ted for the Presidency ? 1 1 hat part did 1 1 'ebster take in the campaign f 
When 7oas he elected to the Senate for the last time? What position 
did he take in relation to the 7oar with Mexico? What did the war 
cost him ? Give briefly the incidents connected with the death of his 
son. 

Give the story of Ifenry Pleasants? When did Afr. Webster s 
daui^hter die? When was Webster's name presented to the Whi^t; 
convention as a candidate for the Presidency? Who receivH the nom- 



DANIEL WEBSTER. 



109 



ination at this time? IV/iy s/ioi/id /le hai'c bccti the iiojitinee of the 
party/ I Vhat effect did the disappointiiietit have tipoii him? llViat 
ivere his objections to Taylor? What did he do during this campaign? 
What can you say of his speech on " The Compromises of the Constitu- 
tion?" In what way ivas it criticized? What was the apparent 
cause of his great political niistake? What were the main features oj 
the Clay compromise? W 'hat were the successes of the Free Soil par- 
ty? What relation did Webster sustain to Fillmore s adt/iinistration ? 
What can you say of his work? 

When was Webster's name again presented to the Whig conven- 
tion as a candidate for the Presidency? With what result? IVho rvas 
the successful candidate? What 7i'as the result of this disappoint- 
ment? II 'hat can you say of the inscription which he dictated for his 
tombstone? What little incident illustrates his love for the flag dur- 
ing his last illness? When did he die? What wishes did he express 
concerning his funeral? What can you say of the simple obsequies f 



I 
2 

3 

5 

CHRO 

1782, 

1797, 
1800. 
1801 



1804. 
1806. 

1807. 
1808. 



SUBJECTS FOR SPECIAL STUDY. 

The heredity and childhood of Daniel Webster. 

His developinent as an orator. 

His influence upon the politics of the period. 

His services as Secretary of State. 

His personal life. 

NOLOGICAL EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF DANIEL WEBSTER. 

Born in Salisbury, Xew Hampshire, January 18. 

Entered Exeter Academy. 

Entered Dartninuth Cdilege. 

Delivered the i- ourth of July address for the people of Hanover. 

Was graduated frc^ii Dartmouth, and returning to his native 
town entered the law office of one of his father's friends. A 
little later, however, he was induced by an offer of three hun- 
dred and fifty dollars a year to become a teacher at Frybun;, 
Maine, where he earned his board by copying dee<ls. This 
change seemed necessary in the embarrassjd condition of the 
finances of the Webster family. 

He went to Boston and entered the law office of Mr. Christo- 
pher Gore, an eminent member of the Boston bar, who was 
afterward elected Governor of Massachusetts. 

His faithful father died, and Daniel assumed his financial x'^'-- 
ponsibilities, and after his brother Ezekiel was admitted t 
the bar, he placed his law practice there in the hands of the 
brother. 

Removed to Portsmouth, where he made his home for many 
years. 

Went back to Salisbury for his bride, Miss Grace Fletcher, 



no DAXIF.L WEBSTER. 

bringing her to his new home, where their children were bom. 

1 812. Was elected a member of the Thirteenth Congress, taking his 
seat in May of 1813. 

1814. Delivered his strong address in opposition to the conduct of the 
war which was then in ])rogress, ojijiosing the pur[)ose of the 
administration to enforce a draft which included minors. He 
claimed that the government should give up the idea of inva- 
sion, and if the war must be continued, it should be carried to 
the coast, and conducted in defense of maritime rights. 

1817. Lost his little daughter firace, who died in her father's arms. 

1818. He argued the famous Dartmouth College rase before the Su- 

preme Court oi the United States, on tlie tenth day of March. 
This address is universally acknowledged as his master piece 
in this department of legal work, and it had a far-reaching 
effect. His success in this case brought within the scope of 
the United States every charter granted by a state, and ex- 
tended the jurisdiction of the Federal Court more than any 
other judgment which it had ever rendered. 

1820. Delivered the famous oration at Plymouth in commemoration 
of the Landing of the Pilgrims. This speech was given on 
the 22d day of December, two hundred years after the mem- 
orable event took place. 

1822. Was nominated for Congress by the people of Boston, and in 
December of the following vear he again took his seat in that 
august body, this time re|>resenting a Massachusetts constit- 
uency. 

1824. Delivered in the House of Representatives his speech on "The 

Greek Revolution." He was then forty-two years of age, and 
this effort was considered in both .America and dreat Britain 
the ablest which, u[> to that time, had ever been made upon 
that lloor. 

1825. Gave his celebrated address in connection with the laying of 

the corner stone of Bunker Hill MiMuunent, at Charlestown, 
Mass. 

1826. Deli\ ered his oratit)n u|)on the lives and services of John Ad- 

ams and Thomas Jefferson. It was given in Faneuil Hall on 
August 2(1. 1/ :l'iis ill l/iis ytitr, a/.'io, t/hit /ir ^^-ds c/iosrn to 
the Si>t(itt\ 

i82cS. Huried his beloved wife, from whose hiss he ik\ er, ]>erliaps, 
fullv recovereil. This was also an eventful year in the Sen- 
ate, and he made several imi)ort.mt s])eeches on the subject 
of the tariff. It was in November of this year that he gave 
the introdu<tory lecture at the opening of the scientific course 
at Mechanic's Institute at Boston. He was fond of science, 
anil had cliosen a scientilic theme for liis graduating essay. 

l82Q. He met with another severe loss in the death of his brother 
Ezekiel, and before the year was out he was again married, 
this time to Miss Leroy of New York. 



[ 



DANIEL WEBSTER. iir 

1830, He delivered his great address in "Reply to Hayne" of South 
Carolina. This speech occupied the greater portion of two 
days in its delivery, and has been universally considered one 
of the ablest which has ever been made in debate. 

1832 South Carolina passed her celebrated nullification ordinance, 
and it was followed by exciting times in tlie Senate. And in 
tiiis time of need, Webster came out scjuarely in behalf of the 
administration, and its right to collect revenues from a rebel- 
lious state. It was this year, also, that he delivered his 
speecii in honor of the centennial birthday of Washington, 
llis name was also consideretl in connectiDU with the nomin- 
ation for the presidency. 

18;, 1 Delivered his celebrated "Kejjly to Calhoun." Tliis speech 
was entitled, "The Constitution not a Coii>^*act." 

In the autumn of the same year he had a prolonged strug- 
gle with President Jackson, on the sul)ject of finance. Dur- 
this contest Webster spoke u])on the subject about sixty-four 
times, winning a victory at last over the administration. 

1837. Delivered a notable political address in Xew York, besides 
many minor efforts. 

i83g. Went'with his family to England for a long needed rest. Was 
everywhere received as befitted one of the principal citizens of 
the United States. In December of that year General Har- 
rison was nominated for the Presidency, and on his return to 
the states, Webster was drawn into the powerful current of 
the political campaign. 

1840. During the summer of this year he delivered political address- 

es in behalf of the Whig nominee (Harrison) in .Massachusetts, 
New York, Pennsylvania and X'irginia, making about seventy 
speeches on the various phases of the cpiestion of finance. 
The result was an overwhelming victory for his party. 

1841. P>ecame Secretary of State under Presitlent Harrison, remain- 

ing in ofilce under the administration of Tyler until 1843. 

This term of office was signalized by valuable services to the 
government in relation to the successful formation of the .Ash- 
burton Treaty. 

He also wrote an important letter to Lord Ashburton on the 
subject of impressment. This radical document forever put 
a stoj) to the custom wliich iiad too long obtained among Brit- 
ish cruisers of impressing seamen from American merchant 
vessels. 

18(3. Retired to his country seat at Marshfield, having resigned the 
Portfolio of State. He remained in retirement only a short time 
when Clay was nominated for the Presidency, when he gave 
him an enthusiastic support, not because he liked the man, 
for he did not, but because he endorsed the principles which 
he represented. 

1844. Although Clay had been defeated.Webster could not keep out 



112 DANIEL WEBSTER. 

of politics, and he was again elected Senator from Massachu- 
setts. 

1845. He took his scat in the Senate for his last term. He op- 
posed the acquisition of territory by comiuest, claiming that 
such procedure threatened the very existence of the nation. 
The Mexican war cost him the life of his son Edward.whodied 
as a Major of Massachusetts \olunteers, and his body was 
brought home just as they were consigning the body of Mr. 
Webster's daughter, Mrs. Apjiieton to the tomb. Hence this 
was another terrible year for the statesman. 

1848. Webster was again prominently talked of, for the Presidency, 
but to the shame of his party the nomination was given to Tay- 
lor, and Webster spurned the ofTer of a second i)lace on the 
ticket. 

He was tempted to leave the campaign battles for 
others to tight while he went to his beloved Marshlivld for 
much needed rest, but party spirit sent him again into the 
field, and Taylor was duly elected and inaugurated. 

1850. Delivered his speech in the Senate of thel'niied States on"The 
Comi)romises of the Ci>nstitution." After this he resigned his 
seat to accept the position of Secretary of State under Kill- 
more, who had succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden 
death of Taylor July 9th, 1850. 

The second term as .Secretary was marked by succeessful 
service to the State, although there were no great internation- 
al iiuestions to be settled. 
The \\ hig Convention assembled in Baltimore and Webster's 
name was presenteii for the first place on the ticket. Hut af- 
ter fifty two successive ballots, the nomination was given to 
General Scott, Webster being again "woumied in the house 
of his friends." 

The same year, while driving near his country seat he was 
thrown from his carriage and severely injured, lie continued 
however to transact the business of his Department until tlie 
8th of Sejitcmber, when he returned to Marshtield, never 
again to see the city where he had given to his country so 
many years of hard work. 

On the evening of Octolnr 3rd, his brilliant career was 
closed by the touch of the death angel, and he left a nation 
in mourning over his loss. 



185: 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

For those who wish to read more extensively on the subject we 
commend the following works: 

Ticknor's "Life of Websti-r. " .\nurican Statesman Series. 
"Life and .Memories of Daniel Webster." D. Appleton & Co., New 
York. 



t 



APH 8 1903 



COPY DEL. TO CAT. DiV. 
APR. 9 190o 



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